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"A Russian pianist with solo firepower... magisterial command... an astonishing display" The New York Times
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), world-renowned pianist Mikhail Pletnev will give a recital, which kicks off the Encore Series, at the Concert Hall of Hong Kong Cultural Centre on 28 May (Monday) at 8 pm.
In the recital, Pletnev will play Bach - Busoni's "Chaconne in D Minor", Beethoven's "Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111", Chopin's "Scherzo No. 1 in B Minor, Op. 20", "Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat Minor, Op. 31", "Ballade No. 3 in A-flat, Op. 47" and "Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23".
The child of musicians, Pletnev was born in Archangel, Russia and displayed exceptional musical talent from an early age. He received his early formal music training from Central Moscow School and later transferred to the Moscow Conservatory, where he studied with Jacob Flier. In 1978, Pletnev won the First Prize and Gold Medal of the Moscow International Tchaikovsky Competition, which unleashed a career that has taken him to virtually every leading international concert podium.
Pletnev is renowned as one of the greatest pianists of our time. He continues to perform regularly as soloist and recitalist in the musical capitals and major festivals of Europe, Asia and his native Russia. He has appeared as soloist with Haitink, Chailly, Sanderling, Nagano, Gergiev, Jarvi, Blomstedt, Maazel, Thielemann, Abbado, Giulini, among others. He is also an active recording artist and his numerous recordings have been world acclaimed. These recordings as well as his live performances have proved him to be an outstanding interpreter of an extensive repertoire, from Scarlatti and Bach to Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven to great romantic masters, especially the Russian giants Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov. Famous for his breathtaking virtuosity that sees a true heir of his of the great Russian piano school, Pletnev, for his very personal interpretations and musical insights, has gained an exceptional position in the history of piano performance, being world acclaimed and at the same time inviting controversy.
Before long, Pletnev discovered that conducting was an ideal complement to his career as a pianist and in 1990, he founded the Russian National Orchestra with the support of Mikhail Gorbachev and numerous Russian private sponsors and artists. In September 1999 Pletnev became the RNO's Conductor Laureate and continues his collaboration with the Orchestra in many of its recordings and concerts at home and abroad.
Pletnev is also a composer. His works include "Classical Symphony", "Triptych for Symphony Orchestra", "Fantasy on Kazakh Themes for Violin and Orchestra" and "Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra". His "Concerto for Viola and Orchestra" premiered in 1998 with Yuri Bashmet as soloist, and his arrangement of Beethoven's "Violin Concerto" for Clarinet and Orchestra, with Michael Collins as soloist, were recorded and received rave reviews, and his brilliant transcriptions of "The Nutcracker" and "The Sleeping Beauty" for piano solo are already very famous.
Tickets of Piano Recital by Mickhail Pletnev priced at $400, $300, $200 and $100 are now available at all URBTIX outlets, with half-price tickets available for senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Recipients (limited tickets for students and Comprehensive Social Security Recipients available on a first-come-first-served basis). A 10% discount for Friends of LCSD performing venues is also offered. In addition, there will be a 10% discount for purchasing at one time tickets for "Encore Series - Piano Recital by Mikhail Pletnev" and "Encore Series - Piano Recital by Yefim Bronfman". Box seats and lounge packages are available for sale. Please call 2734 2929 for details.
Programme enquiries can be made on 2734 2935 while ticketing and reservations on 2734 9009.
End/Friday, April 13, 2001
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