Pianist Evgeny Kissin Launches World Tour in Jerusalem

World renowned pianist Evgeny Kissin will come to Israel for a single performance dedicated to the works of Frantz Liszt, marking the composer’s 200th birthday. The concert will take place on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at Binyanei Hauma – the Jerusalem International Convention Center.

All profits from this special concert will be generously donated by Kissin to the nurturing of outstanding young pianists at the Jerusalem Music Centre. The event was initiated by Kissin, together with the President of the Jerusalem Music Centre Murray Perahia, Lady Annabelle Weidenfeld, members of the Centre’s advisory board, and the Jerusalem Foundation.

In anticipation of Evgeny Kissin’s concert in Israel, Midnight East’s Asher Krim corresponded with the pianist:

Asher Krim: Which composer or piece has been inspiring you lately?
 
Evgeny Kissin: The ones I have been playing: I have devoted the year 2010 solely to Chopin and Schumann to pay tribute to their 200th anniversaries. Throughout 2011, I’ll be honouring Liszt’s 200th anniversary by playing an all-Liszt solo program all over the world (starting in Jerusalem).

AK: You studied piano solely under Anna Pavlovna Kantor. Were there any downsides to studying with one teacher?
 
EK: No, none whatsoever. And I can’t imagine what kind of “downsides” there can be in studying with one teacher – as long as the teacher is good, of course.

AK: What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?
  
EK: Any kind of music, as long as it’s good: classical, jazz, folklore, spiritual music, popular songs (Piaf, Dietrich, Aznavour etc.), Russian bards.

AK: Do you feel connected to any of today’s popular music?
 
EK: Not sure about today … although Aznavour still belongs to our time, as well.

AK: 2011 marks Liszt’s 200th birthday. What place do you feel Liszt holds in today’s concert halls?
 
EK: As far as I know, a prominent one – although his non-piano music could (and should!) be performed more, on my opinion.

AK: Do you feel Liszt has transcended the Paganini-Virtuoso category?
 
EK: Yes, of course. He stands high above it. By the way, I believe that Paganini’s music doesn’t belong to the “virtuoso category” only, either.

AK: How has your work process changed over the years?

EK: Now I am able to do more than before – and I realize more and more how difficult it is to play piano!

AK: How many hours a day do you usually play?

EK: Every day is different; it depends on the amount of work I have to do on each particular day (although I often wish I could stretch the day to at least 48 hours in order to be able to do more!).

AK: When is the last time that you went through an entire day without playing piano?

EK: I usually don’t practice on the days that follow my concerts (unless, of course, I am performing on consecutive days).
The concert in Jerusalem will launch Evgeny Kissin’s world tour with performances in distinguished venues such as La Scala, Concertgebouw and Carnegie Hall.

Concert Program:

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

Ricordanza (Etude d’Execution Transcendante No. 9)
Sonata in B-Minor
Funerailles
Vallee d’Obermann
Venezia e Napoli (Gondoliera, Canzona, Tarantella)

The concert will take place January 8, 2011 at 20:30 at Binyanei Hauma, the Jerusalem International Convention Center. Concert tickets may be purchased through Bimot: www.bimot.co.il or call 02-6237000.