Ivo Pogorelich was born in Belgrade in 1958 as the son of a musician. He received his first piano lessons at the age of seven and went to Moscow at the age of 12 to study at the Central Special Music School and then at the Tchaikowsky Conservatory.

 

 

Ever since his debut recital in New York’s Carnegie Hall in 1981, Ivo Pogorelich has created a sensation with his performances in all the great concert halls throughout the world; starting in the U.S. and followed by performances on all four continents. He has received invitations to play with numerous major orchestras such as the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras, all the London Orchestras, the Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, New York Philharmonic Orchestras of the U.S. and major orchestras elsewhere.

 

Wherever and whenever he plays, his stunning interpretations of the music confirm the originality of his talent and intellect. The New York Times once wrote, “He played each note exactly, with such a feeling, such expression, he was an entire orchestra – it was as if he played 200 years ahead of our time”. In this spirit, Ivo Pogorelich is known today as a poet of the instrument.

 

In the recent season 2014/2015, Ivo Pogorelich has given triumphal recitals and concerts in Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Great Britain, Lithuania, Croatia, Spain, Turkey, Japan as well as in China. In 2015/16, Ivo Pogorelich appeared in Warsaw, Dubrovnik, Montreux, Oxford, Cologne, Stuttgart, Munich, Paris and other European cities.

 

Besides his extensive concert performances, Ivo Pogorelich has offered a lot to the community by supporting young musicians. In 1986, he established a foundation in Croatia to raise funds for scholarships for young artists to further their studies abroad. At the german spa town of Bad Wörishofen, Ivo Pogorelich created a festival, which went on for a decade, with the aim of supporting promising young musicians at the very beginning of their careers by giving them the opportunity of performing in company with their well-known colleagues. In 1993, the Ivo Pogorelich Piano Competition was held in the Californian city of Pasadena. A biannual performance is offered in the city of Lugano, where Ivo Pogorelich lives, with the aim of promoting and helping young musicians.

 

In 1994, the pianist set up a foundation in Sarajevo to raise money to rebuild a maternity hospital in the city. Ivo Pogorelich gives charity concerts in support of, for example, the Red Cross or the fight against illnesses, such as cancer and multiple sclerosis, among other projects. One of such is to offer his advice to young artists by occasionally giving masterclasses. In 1987 he received the honor of being named an “Ambassador of Goodwill” by UNESCO.

 

 

Ivo Pogorelich has recorded an impressive number of CDs with Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft, with a repertory ranging from Baroque to Classic, to Romantic and the music of the 20th century. The cumulative effect of this recorded material has confirmed his status which many see as being legendary. In March 2015 Deutsche Grammophon has released a single box set Pogorelich Complete Recordings with 14 extraordinary albums which has been awarded with the French Diapason d’Or.

 

 

English Suite No.3 in G Minor, BWV 808

Beethoven
Piano Sonata No.11 in B-flat Major, Op.22

- Intermission -

Chopin
Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Op.60

Chopin
Prelude in C-sharp Minor, Op.45

Ravel
Gaspard de la Nuit