Odessa Classics in Zurich: Alexey Botvinov, klavier

February 20, Tonhalle Zürich, 19:30. Tickets

PROGRAMME:

• Robert Schumann (1810-1856) "Arabesque" Op.18 (1839)
• Robert Schumann (1910-1856) "Children's Scenes" Op.15 (1838)
• Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 -1943) Piano Sonata No.2 Op. 36 (1913)
• Alemdar Karamanov (1934-2007) "Ave Maria" (1968), (Piano Concerto N3, arrangement for piano solo by A.Botvinov (Swiss premiere)

Alexey Botvinov is one of the most renowned Ukrainian pianists and artistic director of the “Odessa Classics” music festival.

At 19, Alexey Botvinov became the youngest competitor to win the Allunion Rachmaninoff Competition in Moscow and was appointed soloist of the Philharmonic and teacher at the Odessa Conservatory. He was assistant to Prof. Gornostayeva at the Moscow Conservatory and later studied with Alexis Weissenberg. In Düsseldorf, he worked with Heinz Spoerli and has since been a regular guest with the Zurich Ballet, where he interpreted Bach's "Goldberg Variations", a work which he has performed more than 300 times live. He accompanied the Zurich Chamber Orchestra on its China tour. Botvinov was a jury member at the 5th International Rubinstein Competition in Poland. He made his debut in London's Wigmore Hall with works by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff. From 2009 – 2010 he was the artistic director of the Odessa National Opera Theater. He is “People's Artist of Ukraine”, the highest award for artists in Ukraine. In 2020 Alexey Botvinov was awarded the Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy by the President of Italy. He also received the "Swiss Wilhelm Tell Award-2020".

In 2015 Botvinov founded his own festival ODESSA CLASSICS, which has established itself as the most successful in Eastern Europe. In 2022, Alexey Botvinov successfully placed the ODESSA CLASSICS festival in Estonia, Greece, Germany, and Lithuania.

Together with the star violinist Daniel Hope, Botvinov made three sensationally successful recordings with Deutsche Grammophon with works by Alfred Schnittke, Valentin Silvestrov and the "Music for Ukraine" project. With the San Francisco "New Century Orchestra" - conducted by Daniel Hope - a tour in the USA and Germany with works by Tan Dun and Philip Glass is planned for 2023.

Alexey Botvinov has performed in more than 46 countries.