The Eastman School of Music concludes its Grand Pianists series next month with a solo appearance by the acclaimed Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman on Tuesday, April 11 at 8 p.m. in the Eastman Theatre. Zimerman, who has been described as “a formidable pianist with a prodigious technique and a powerful intellect” (The New York Times) and an “elegant and impeccable technician” (The Boston Globe), will entertain audiences with a program of Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Ravel, and Bacewicz.
Zimerman was catapulted into the international spotlight in 1975 after winning the Grand Prix at the Chopin Competition. Since then, he has developed an audience of devoted fans, many of whom travel great distances to see him perform live. Despite his Polish heritage, he has not pigeon-holed himself as a mere “Chopin specialist,” but rather has developed a reputation for being able to perform works by composers from all over the globe.
For the past 14 years, he has toured with his personalized Hamburg Steinway piano in tow, removing the necessity of dealing with an unknown instrument and enabling him to concentrate solely on the music. This unusual practice is possible because of several technical inventions that Zimerman – himself an expert piano-builder – has applied to his prized instrument.
Zimerman records exclusively for Deutsche Grammophon, with whom he has released two dozen recordings. His most recent CD, released internationally in January 2004, is the critically acclaimed recording of the Rachmaninov Concertos with the Boston Symphony and Seiji Ozawa.
Tickets for Krystian Zimerman range from $15 to $30, and are available at the RPO Box Office (108 East Avenue), by phone at 454-2100, online at www.esm.rochester.edu/concerts, or at Rochester-area Wegmans Home Video departments. Any unsold tickets will be available at the Eastman Theatre Box Office one hour before concert time.
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Note: Photos and program information are available upon request.