July 29, 2013.From recent uploads:George Vatchnadze and Ran Jia.Georgian-American pianist George Vatchnadze is an established artist recognized as one of the most interesting musicians of his generation.He has appeared with orchestras and in recitals throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Netherlands, Italy, Israel, Russia, and other countries. He has performed at the Hollywood Bowl, Ravinia, Stresa, and Rotterdam Philharmonic’s Gergiev Festivals, and other venues.In 1997 Mr. Vatchnadze made a sensational recital debut at the prestigious Edinburgh International Music Festival and received the “Herald Angel Award” presented by the Scottish Herald newspaper.In 1999 Mr. Vatchnadze made his New York recital debut at the Alice Tully Hall. Critic and writer Faubion Bowers wrote in American Record Guide: “Vatchnadze is a consummate artist, now at the height of his musical and intellectual powers. He can do absolutely anything he wants at the piano. He commands delicate pianissimi, massive diapasons and everything in between”.In 20111, Mr. Vatchnadze joined the DePaul faculty as Associate Professor of Piano.Mr. Vatchnadze plays Robert Schumann’s Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood), Op. 15.It was written in 1838, a difficult period in Schumann’s life: he was separated from his fiancée Clara Wieck, all the while trying to convince her stubborn father to allow them to marry.Kinderszenen is a collection of 13 seemingly simple but emotionally complex pieces.Mr. Vatchnadze’s performance is romantic but probing, a rare but highly satisfying combination.You can listen to it here.
The 24-year old pianist Ran Jia is regarded by many as a musician with unusual natural abilities.Born in Chengdu, the capital of the Chinese province of Sichuan, Ms. Jia began studying piano at the age of three and made her solo debut in 1995, at the age of six. In November 2005, she made her debut at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s.In the summer of 2008 Ms. Jia made a European recital debut at the Klavierfestival Ruhr playing two Schubert sonatas to great acclaim.In 2009 Ms. Jia made her Vancouver Symphony Orchestra subscription debut, performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.12. The following summer she toured the southern cities of China, performing Camille Saint-Saëns’s Concerto No. 2 with the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra. In the 2011-12 seasons, Ms. Jia appeared at the Miami International Piano Festival, the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival and in recital in Dusseldorf, Munich, and Ludwigshafen.Ran Jia studied with Gary Graffman at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.Ms. Jia is currently enrolled at the Music Academy in Cologne, studying under Nina Tichman. Ms. Jia performs Franz Schubert’s Piano Sonata No. 18 in G major, D. 894.The sonata was completed in 1826 and published a year later; it’s the last one to be published during Schubert’s lifetime.The English pianist Imogen Cooper called D. 894 Schubert’s “completely serene” sonata, and Ms. Jia gives every theme enough space and time to fully develop (here).
George Vatchnadze and Ran Jia
July 29, 2013. From recent uploads: George Vatchnadze and Ran Jia. Georgian-American pianist George Vatchnadze is an established artist recognized as one of the most interesting musicians of his generation. He has appeared with orchestras and in
recitals throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Netherlands, Italy, Israel, Russia, and other countries. He has performed at the Hollywood Bowl, Ravinia, Stresa, and Rotterdam Philharmonic’s Gergiev Festivals, and other venues. In 1997 Mr. Vatchnadze made a sensational recital debut at the prestigious Edinburgh International Music Festival and received the “Herald Angel Award” presented by the Scottish Herald newspaper. In 1999 Mr. Vatchnadze made his New York recital debut at the Alice Tully Hall. Critic and writer Faubion Bowers wrote in American Record Guide: “Vatchnadze is a consummate artist, now at the height of his musical and intellectual powers. He can do absolutely anything he wants at the piano. He commands delicate pianissimi, massive diapasons and everything in between”. In 20111, Mr. Vatchnadze joined the DePaul faculty as Associate Professor of Piano. Mr. Vatchnadze plays Robert Schumann’s Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood), Op. 15. It was written in 1838, a difficult period in Schumann’s life: he was separated from his fiancée Clara Wieck, all the while trying to convince her stubborn father to allow them to marry. Kinderszenen is a collection of 13 seemingly simple but emotionally complex pieces. Mr. Vatchnadze’s performance is romantic but probing, a rare but highly satisfying combination. You can listen to it here.
The 24-year old pianist Ran Jia is regarded by many as a musician with unusual natural abilities. Born in Chengdu, the capital of the Chinese province of Sichuan, Ms. Jia began studying piano at the age of three and made her solo debut in 1995, at the age of six.
In November 2005, she made her debut at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. In the summer of 2008 Ms. Jia made a European recital debut at the Klavierfestival Ruhr playing two Schubert sonatas to great acclaim. In 2009 Ms. Jia made her Vancouver Symphony Orchestra subscription debut, performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.12. The following summer she toured the southern cities of China, performing Camille Saint-Saëns’s Concerto No. 2 with the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra. In the 2011-12 seasons, Ms. Jia appeared at the Miami International Piano Festival, the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival and in recital in Dusseldorf, Munich, and Ludwigshafen. Ran Jia studied with Gary Graffman at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Ms. Jia is currently enrolled at the Music Academy in Cologne, studying under Nina Tichman. Ms. Jia performs Franz Schubert’s Piano Sonata No. 18 in G major, D. 894. The sonata was completed in 1826 and published a year later; it’s the last one to be published during Schubert’s lifetime. The English pianist Imogen Cooper called D. 894 Schubert’s “completely serene” sonata, and Ms. Jia gives every theme enough space and time to fully develop (here).