Piotr Anderszewski, fot. www.polishculture.org.uk
During his piano recital at the Barbican Hall Piotr Anderszewski will perform the music of two German masters: Bach and Schumann
Polish pianist
Piotr Anderszewski talks of music as being a search for the solution to an unanswerable question. It is a journey the admirers of this famously perfectionist performer (20 years ago he walked off stage during an otherwise admired recital in the semi-finals of the Leeds Piano Competition, dissatisfied with himself) have been richly fulfilled by following, whether through his appearances on the concert stage or his remarkable recordings.
A pianist unstinting in his absolute devotion to his art, Anderszewski will doubtless bring inspired insight to the works on tonight's programme, including Bach's English Suites, beautiful works of intimacy and intricacy (which incidentally are thought to have no link to England other than their title), and Schumann's Six Etudes in Canonic Form.
An exclusive artist with Virgin Classics since 2000, Anderszewski's first disc on the Virgin label was Beethoven's Diabelli Variations, a much-lauded recording which received a number of prizes including a Choc du Monde de la Musique and an ECHO Klassik award. His discography also includes a Grammy-nominated CD of Bach's Partitas 1, 3 and 6 and a critically-acclaimed disc of works by
Chopin. His affinity with the music of his compatriot
Karol Szymanowski is captured in a highly-praised recording of the composer's solo piano works, which received the Classic FM Gramophone Award in 2006 for best instrumental disc. His most recent recording, devoted to solo works by Robert Schumann, is due for release in November 2010.
Recognised for the intensity and originality of his interpretations, Piotr Anderszewski has been singled out for several high profile awards throughout his career, including the prestigious Gilmore award, given every four years to a pianist of exceptional talent.
He has also been the subject of two award-winning films by Bruno Monsaingeon (creator of documentaries on Glenn Gould and Sviatoslav Richter). The first of these, Piotr Anderszewski plays the Diabelli Variations (2001) explores Anderszewski's particular relationship with Beethoven's opus 120, whilst the second, Piotr Anderszewski, Unquiet Traveller (2008) is an unusual artist portrait, capturing Anderszewski's reflections on music, performance and his Polish-Hungarian roots. A third collaboration with Monsaingeon, Anderszewski Plays Schumann is to be broadcast in December 2010.
Engagements in 2010-11 include recitals at the Zürich Tonhalle, London's Barbican Centre, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris and Suntory Hall in Tokyo. Anderszewski will also tour North America with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, playing and directing Mozart concertos from the keyboard. In spring 2011 he embarks on a European tour with German violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann and is also the featured artist in four concerts at the Laeiszhalle in Hamburg. His orchestral engagements include concerts with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, the SWR Sinfonieorchester, the Philharmonia and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
Programme: Bach English Suite No 5 and Schumann 6 Etudes in Canonic Form.
Barbican Centre
Barbican Hall
Silk Street
London EC2Y 8DS
Source: www.polishculture.org.uk