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| | Arts Calendar / November 20 / Concerts |
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19:00 | Freddy Kempf (piano) |
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One of today's most successful pianists, performing to sell-out audiences all over the world Freddy Kempf will play Sonata # 27 E Minor, op. 90 by Beethoven, Sonata # 20 A Major (D 959) by Schubert, and Big Sonata G Major, op. 37 by Tchaikovsky. Exceptionally gifted with an unusually broad repertoire, Freddy has built a unique reputation as an explosive and physical performer not afraid to take risks as well as a serious, sensitive and profoundly musical artist. Born in London in 1977, Freddy made his concerto debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 8, and, maintaining a strong link with the orchestra ever since, joined them for his conducting debut in 2011. Last season, Freddy play/directed the ensemble in a complete cycle of Beethoven's piano concertos, giving 11 performances in many of the UK's most significant venues. Freddy came to national prominence in 1992 when he won the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition. In 1998, his award of third, rather than first, prize in the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow provoked protests from the audience and an outcry in the Russian press, which proclaimed him "the hero of the competition." His international career was rapidly established and his unprecedented popularity with Russian audiences has since been reflected in numerous sold-out concerts and television broadcasts. "Kempf shaped lines with delicacy and insight, yet it was the balance with an impetuous Beethovenian fire that lifted the performance of the third concerto on to a higher level" (The Guardian). "Freddy Kempf was burningly intense and focused" (The Telegraph).
Moscow Conservatory Great Hall  |
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19:00 | Yiruma (South Korea) |
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 Yiruma is the stage name of Lee Ru-ma who was born on February 15, 1978, is a popular internationally known pianist and composer from South Korea. The name Yiruma means "accomplishment" in Korean. Yiruma's piano music is expressive and introspective. He frequently performs at sold-out concerts in Asia, Europe and North America. His Alma Mater King's College in England helped him gain European popularity and recognition. Several of his most popular pieces include, "River Flows in You", "Kiss the Rain", and "Maybe". His most popular album First Love was released in 2001. He began playing the piano at the age of five, and moved to London when he was 11, in 1988, to study at The Purcell School of Music. He possessed dual citizenship of South Korea and England until 2006. In 2006, he gave up his UK citizenship to serve in the Navy of South Korea. Lee Ru-ma was born and raised in South Korea, and educated in England. Yiruma began playing the piano at the age of five, and subsequently moved to London at the age of eleven (1988), to study at The Purcell School of Music. In December 1996 he participated in the album The Musicians of Purcell (Decca). Graduating from Purcell School of Music in July 1997, Yiruma continued his musical aspirations and completed a Composition major from King's College London in June 2000. While studying at Kings College, this promising pianist released his first album Love Scene through DECCA records. Making a historical impact for his country, Yiruma was the first Korean artist to receive an invitation to perform at the 2002 MIDEM in Cannes, France. Early in his career, his albums were released in Europe and Asia, they are now available internationally through various online sources such as iTunes, Amazon, and Yiruma's recording label STOMP Records. In 2001 he released his most popular album to date, First Love. Yiruma's musical style is easy to misclassify. Because his music is popular among many listeners who are not familiar with classical music, the solo piano instrumentation and tendency toward "movements" often leads to labels like "new classical" or "contemporary classical." However, although his composition studies would have included the classics, neither the structure of his pieces nor his technique as a pianist are heavily influenced by them. His music has sometimes been classified vaguely as "popular", as shown by the inclusion of his hit piece River Flows in You on a compilation of wedding pieces titled "Wedding Essentials: The Ceremony". According to the iTunes Store, he is actually considered a World Music or New Age artist. For the actual structure of his music, the movement and reach required to play his pieces averages around Grade 7 by Royal Conservatory standards. Pattern and repetition feature prominently, however, making the structure more like popular pieces or movie themes than traditional solo piano compositions. Yiruma's pieces are also heavy in simple melody and rhythm, making them immediately attractive to many modern ears. More info
MMDM Svetlanov Hall |
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