Vi er glade for i denne utgaven av våre Pianokonserter kunne presentere Ivan Donchev, kalt “en musiker med kunstnerisk og teknisk begavelse helt utenom det vanlige», samt en rafinert og temperamentsfull pianist som er i stand til å bevege sine lyttere.
På kveldens program får vi høre verker av Franz Liszt tilegnet Italia:
«Deuxième année: Italie» («Second Year: Italy»), S.161
Sposalizio (Marriage of the Virgin, a painting by Raphael)
Il penseroso (The Thinker, a statue by Michelangelo)
Canzonetta del Salvator Rosa
Sonetto 47 del Petrarca (Petrarch’s Sonnet 47) in D♭ major
Sonetto 104 del Petrarca (Petrarch’s Sonnet 104) in E major
Sonetto 123 del Petrarca (Petrarch’s Sonnet 123) in A♭ major
Après une lecture de Dante: Fantasia Quasi Sonata
Venezia e Napoli:
-Gondoliera
-Canzone
-Tarantella
* * *
Ivan Donchev was born in Bulgaria in 1981. He began his musical studies at the age of five at the “Pancho Vladigerov” National Music School in Burgas. He gave his first public recital at the age of 9. In 1993, at the age of twelve, he made his concerto debut with Burgas Philharmonic Orchestra.
He has distinguished himself in many national and international competitions in Bulgaria (“Svetoslav Obretenov” 1994), Ireland (“EMCY”, Dublin, 1996), Romania (“Carl Filtsch”, 1997) and Italy (“Sergio Fiorentino Prize”, 2004 and “Società Umanitaria” Competition in Milan in 2008).
At the age of 16 Ivan Donchev won the 1st prize at the IInd International Piano Competition for German and Austrian Music in Burgas. Few months later ha was awarded a special prize by the “Chopin Society” in Darmstadt and made his debut at the “Gasteig” Hall in Munich.
Ivan Donchev has performed as a soloist in most of the major European cities and has regularly toured in Europe, Asia, USA and Russia. His list of credits include recitals in New York, Vienna, Berlin, Rome, Dublin, London, Seoul, Moscow, etc. He has performed with the New York Festival Orchestra, Florence Chamber Orchestra, Taranto Symphony Orchestra, Bari Symphonic Orchestra, Kronstadt Philharmoniker, Jeonju Philharmonic and many others. Ivan Donchev has played under the baton of Daniel Schweizer, Anton Shaburov, Hideaki Hirai, Ivan Kozhuharov, David Crescenzi, Yordan Dafov, Stefano Trasimeni, Piero Romano, Grigor Palikarov, Giuseppe Lanzetta, Geum No-sang, Il Koo Lee and others.Very active in chamber music, he has obtained his master degree at “Santa Cecilia”Conservatory of Music in Rome and regulary performs with well known musicians.
Ivan Donchev has received the “Sorrento Classica” prize from the hands of his mentor Aldo Ciccolini and in 2011 they performed a memorable four hands concert at the Fenetrange Music Festival in France.
He has recorded the world premiere of Vito Palumbo’s Quadro Sinfonico Concertante (dedicated to him by the author) and all Tchaykovsky’s piano concertos. His records are delivered by the labels Rai Trade, Suonare News music magazine, Sheva Collection, Gega New and include broadcasts for RAI 3, Radio France, Radio Classica, BG National Radio and TV. Some of his recordings are 5 stars awarded by the UK magazine Musical Opinion.
Donchev serves on the piano faculty at “Clivis” Academy of Music in Rome. He is invited to act as a jury member in international competitions and regularly gives masterclasses in Asia and Europe.
In 2015 he made his US debut at the Kaufman Music Center in New York. One year later he performed in several live streaming concerts the 3rd Piano Concerto by Sergey Rachmaninov. His last CD “Live in Montpellier” is delivered by Gega New.