The eleventh edition of Flagey Piano Days, from 7-11 February, will feature great classics interspersed with new and more contemporary works. For the first time, Flagey has invited an artist to co-curate the Piano Days. Pianist Anna Vinnitskaya, known for her expressive sensitivity, versatility and broad repertoire, who is also a laureate of the Queen Elisabeth Competition (2007), has selected both established names and young talents to offer Brussels a sparkling festival that celebrates the piano and its range.
Piano Days will open with Daniil Trifonov and Gautier Capuçon performing Debussy, Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff. The five days festival of the piano isn’t limited to the classical repertory, it will include jazz and other forms of experimental works; among the new works Cédric Tiberghien will perform the world première of a new commission, specially dedicated to the pianist, from the composer Kris Defoort.
As for jazz, the programme features Yaron Herman presenting Alma, his first CD, a new work for piano centered on improvisation and imagination. Stefano Bollani, Italian pianist, blends jazz and South American sounds in his recent album Blooming.
Alongside the performances there are public talks and even an exhibition, with around twenty events in total!
Finally, many of the guest musicians featured in this eleventh edition of the festival will probably be new discoveries for the Flagey audience, starting with the Argentine pianist José Gallardo, who will play works by Rameau and Couperin, two great masters of the French baroque. Lukas Sternath will play a programme of works by Schumann and Liszt. And Zubin Kanga, Australian composer and pianist, will push the boundaries of the world of the piano through his experimental, electronic, and immersive music.
“Flagey Piano Days are a celebration of diversity and of pianistic innovation, accessible to everyone, a place to discover the rising stars of the piano world,” says Gilles Ledure, Flagey’s General Manager. He says that audiences will also notice a definite presence of Johann Sebastian Bach.
To see the full programme: www.flagey.be/pianodays
