Thursday . 25th April - 8.00pm
ILYA RASHKOVSKIY
Programme:
Italian Concerto BWV 971 - Bach (1685-1750)
Three movements: An allegro first movement, a slow, aria-type movement, and a finale
Sonata No.8 in B flat Major, Op.84 - Prokofiev (1891-1953)
1 Andante dolce - Allegro moderato - Andante dolce come prima - Allegro 2 Andante sognando 3 Vivace - Allegro ben marcato - Andantino - Vivace come prima
Interval
Twelve Études, Op.10 - Chopin (1810-1849)
Twelve Études, Op.25 - Chopin (1810-1849)
BIO
The travel books say that the unassuming city of Irkutsk was founded as a Cossack fortress in 1654, and is now the capital of Eastern Siberia. Nearly 30 years ago however, Irkutsk was granted a new claim to fame, when it became the birthplace of pianist Ilya Rashkovskiy.
Beginning piano lessons at five years of age, Ilya was to give his first public concert at eight. After winning a Rostropovitch Foundation Award, he left Irkutsk to study music in Hanover and then in Paris. For fifteen years now he has been carrying off major prizes in the most famous piano competitions, in Italy, France, Spain, Belgium and Hong Kong.
In big demand by promoters as a recitalist and by orchestras as a soloist, Ilya’s concerts have taken him all over Europe and Asia, and his playing has drawn the highest praise from audiences and critics alike. All the reviews highlight the abundant elegance of his performances, while his playing of the Russian composers has been specially admired.
This is good news for us, since Ilya’s first-half programme for the NZIPF is to include Prokofiev’s Eighth Sonata, the last (some say the greatest) of his three “War” Sonatas. This musical tour de force requires enormous virtuosity and unbridled athleticism, yet the performer must also be able to change instantly into lyrical mood, with a subtle intricacy of touch.
Not content with this pianistic Parnassus, Ilya’s second half will be dedicated to a performance of both sets of Chopin Studies, op.12 and op.25 - the “Olympics” of the Piano Study repertoire. This is a concert that is not to be missed; the rewards will be great.
Ilya Rashkovskiy has recorded for Naxos a CD of “Seasons” compositions by Tchaikovsky, and a disc of Fantasies (Mozart, Chopin, Liszt and Scriabin) forAlpha Omega of Hong Kong.
“. . . powerfully expressive interpretation . . . richly eloquent.” (Arnaud Buissonin - The Festivals Guide)