Recitals Series

Ivan Ilić piano

Recently described by The New Yorker as an "adventurous pianist," Ivan Ilić is rapidly gaining a strong international reputation. He studied at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris, where he was awarded a Premier Prix in piano performance. The American pianist has recorded his second CD for the French label Paraty, entitled "22 Chopin Studies" by Leopold Godowsky. Godowsky was a celebrity in his day: Arthur Rubinstein said that "it would take him 500 years" to acquire Godowsky’s technique. Rachmaninoff wrote that "Godowsky is the only musician of this age who has given a real, lasting contribution to the development of the piano". But following Godowsky’s death in 1938, his compositions were largely ignored until the year 2000, when super-virtuoso pianists such as Marc-André Hamelin and Boris Berezovsky began to record and perform his works in concert. Ivan Ilić is the latest pianist to rise to the formidable challenge. His album focuses on the 22 Studies for the left hand alone, considered among the most difficult pieces ever written for the instrument. But there is poetry in Ilic’s interpretations which makes one forget the difficulty, and allows the listener to bask in Godowsky's rich, dark re-working of Chopin's masterpieces.

This recital will include the complete Godowsky Studies for the left hand, followed by a CD signing.

Programme
Johannes Brahms Chaconne in D minor by JS Bach, transcription
Leopold Godowsky 12 Etudes de Godowsky d’après Chopin, pour main gauche seule

Concert
Tue 17 Apr 8.00pm | £15, conc. £12, students £8

In partnership with Steinway & Sons