October
17 th, 2014

Polish pianist Rafał Blechacz performing in the Wortham Center

Rafal_Belchacz_1Polish pianist Rafał Blechacz will make his Houston debut

Friday, Oct. 17, 2014, at 8 p.m.

in the Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater, presented by Society for the Performing Arts.

Tickets $23-$58

can be purchased online at www.spahouston.org, by phone at 713-632-8113.

15% discount for Houston Polonia when ordering tickets online!  Enter discount code: pianovip

Buy Tickets

 

 

 

The program for the evening will include

  • J.S. Bach’s Italian concerto, BWV 971;
  • Ludwig van Beethoven’s Sonata in c minor, Op. 13 Pathetique;
  • three works by Frédéric Chopin: Nocturne No. 2 in E Major, Op. 62; 3 Waltzes, Op. 64; 3 Mazurkas, Op. 56 and Polonaise in F-sharp minor, Op. 44.
Rafał Blechacz’s career was launched in October 2005 after winning the 15th Frédéric Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw, Poland. In January 2014 he was the recipient of the Gilmore Artist Award, which is given every four years to an international pianist of any age and nationality following a rigorous and confidential selection process.

Born in Nakło nad Notecią, a city in northern Poland, Rafał Blechacz began studying piano at the age of five. His professional studies began at the Artur Rubinstein State School of Music followed by the Feliks Nowoiejski Academy of Music with pianist Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń. While still in school he began competing in prestigious competitions including the 13th All-Poland Johann Sebastian Bach Competition (first prize), the 5th International Young Pianists Competition (second prize) and the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition in Japan (co-winner).

Since the launch of his career, the 29-year-old Blechacz has signed a contract to work exclusively with the Deutche Grammophon record label with whom he has released five albums, including his most recent Chopin Polonaises. His work in concert halls includes performances in Europe, Asia and America with some of the greatest symphonies and conductors including Paavo Järvi and Charles Dutoit.

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