Music in NYC: Evgeny Kissin, Piano with Solo Recital at Carnegie Hall on May 16, 2019
The legendary pianist Evgeny Kissin plays a solo piano recital of Chopin, Schumann, Debussy, and Scriabin at Carnegie Hall on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 8 pm
Evgeny Kissin is undoubtedly the most famous classical pianist of our time. Beloved by the fans and admirers of his performing style, his appearance at the concert hall doesn’t require elaborate introduction. Just a mere mention of his name brings up awe and veneration.
After taking some time off from concert playing in 2017, Kissin immersed himself in composing and writing which exposed a formidable talent and the depth of thoughts all the while not losing sight of his métier. The Solo Piano Recital at Carnegie Hall on May 16 will give the public a chance to hear the pianists playing a program of romantic music from Chopin and Schumann to Debussy and Scriabin. Virtuoso pianist Evgeny Kissin commands sold out houses, so book ahead.
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Kissin’s fame started early when in 1981 as a child prodigy at the age of 10 he played Mozart’s Concerto, his first public performance of the serious music. That successful engagement led to his first solo recital at the Moscow Conservatory when he was still a student at the Gnessin School of Music for musically gifted children. A star was born! The following year he made his first recording with Melodia label.
His international career commenced in 1986 when he first toured Japan and the following year appeared at the Berlin Music Festival. In the subsequent year he performed on a European tour with the Moscow Virtuosi orchestra and conductor Vladimir Spivakov. He also played with the London Symphony orchestra in London. Later that same year he was introduced to maestro von Karajan who invited Kissin to perform in the New Year concert with the Berlin Philharmonic and to record with DG.
The first performance by Kissin in North America took place in 1990 with the New York Philharmonic orchestra under the baton of Zubin Mehta. The following year he opened Carnegie Hall’s centennial season. Kissin’s performing style, serious and impenetrable yet full of romantic aspects in each and every phrase, makes his concerts so special. He is known to get completely absorbed when sitting at the piano. At that time the audience and everything around becomes almost non-existent so that he can be himself with the music. In the words of WSJ review on his newly released book Memoirs and Reflections, “Only music sets him free.”
Kissin had celebrated his 25 years since the debut at Carnegie Hall by giving a Perspective Series, a highly prestigious program of concerts and recitals, throughout the 2015-2016 season. The history of the Perspectives goes back to 1999 when Mauricio Pollini was selected to create the series “which allows musicians to program and perform a group of concerts that deeply explore their artistic interests” as described by the Carnegie Hall “Then and Now”. One of the recitals in Kissin’s series was dedicated to the oeuvre of 20th-century composers of Jewish ancestry. That recital had opened up a whole new plethora of post-romantic music with all the delicacies of fresh sounds and melodies. In addition to playing new pieces, Kissin superbly mixed the music with reciting verses in Yiddish including his own poetry. Later in the interview to BBC, he said that “I want people to know who I am”.
Returning back to his packed performing and recording schedule, Kissin is as graceful as ever with an extra softness in his playing likely an effect of the changes in his personal life. A collection of Beethoven released with DG in Fall 2017 attests to his confidence and content. He is now at ease with himself and the world and is ready to fully connect with his audience.
The program in store for this highly anticipated recital at Carnegie Hall starts with the sentimental nocturnes by Chopin and the “Grande Sonata” by Schumann on a theme by his wife Clara Schumann. Fairytale-like Preludes by Debussy will follow with Scriabin’s romantic sonata in two movements at the conclusion.
Program:
CHOPIN Nocturne in F Minor, Op. 55, No. 1; Nocturne in G Major, Op. 37, No. 2; Nocturne in E Major, Op. 62, No. 2
SCHUMANN Piano Sonata No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 14, “Grande Sonate”
DEBUSSY Selections from Préludes, Book I and Book II
SCRIABIN Piano Sonata No. 4 in F-sharp Major, Op. 30
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Venue: Carnegie Hall, 57th Street, NY Directions to Carnegie Hall
