The Chopin Society UK

Programme

Since winning the 15th International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 2005, Rafał Blechacz has established himself as a leading figure on the international concert scene, recognized as one of the greatest performers of Chopin’s works of his generation. The Polish pianist is celebrated worldwide by audiences and critics alike for his profound and virtuosic interpretations. He was awarded the prestigious Gilmore Artist Award in 2014, given every four years to an extraordinary concert pianist regardless of age or nationality.

Blechacz has performed with renowned orchestras, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, hr-Sinfonieorchester Frankfurt, Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, Camerata Salzburg, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. He gives recitals in major concert halls worldwide, such as Philharmonie Berlin, Prinzregententheater Munich, Konzerthaus Dortmund, Salle Pleyel in Paris, Wigmore Hall London, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Teatro alla Scala Milan, Wiener Konzerthaus, and BOZAR – Palais des Beaux-Arts Brussels, as well as in the USA and Asia.

He begins the 2024/2025 season with the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra under Kent Nagano and will also perform with the SWR Symphony Orchestra, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo, and Bavarian Radio Chamber Orchestra. His solo recitals will take him to Milan, Geneva, Berlin, and Paris, along with extensive tours in Japan and China. As a chamber musician, he focuses on his duo with Bomsori Kim.

Blechacz is an exclusive recording artist with Deutsche Grammophon. His debut recording of Chopin’s Préludes achieved Platinum Record status in Poland and earned a German ECHO Klassik and French Diapason d’Or award. His recording of both Chopin concertos with the Concertgebouworkest under Jerzy Semkow received the ‘Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik’. In 2012, his album of works by Debussy and Szymanowski was named ‘Recording of the Month’ by Gramophone magazine and ‘Solo Recording of the Year’ by ECHO Klassik. His recent albums, including polonaises by Chopin, works by Bach, and his duo album with Bomsori, have been well-received by audiences and critics alike. His latest recording, featuring works by Frédéric Chopin, was released in March 2023, dedicated to the composer who has shaped his career.

Born in 1985, Blechacz began studying piano at five, continuing his education at the Arthur Rubinstein State School of Music in Bydgoszcz. He graduated from the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz in 2007, studying under Professor Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń. In 2016, he received his doctorate in music philosophy.

Our piano, a fine 2015 Hamburg Steinway Model B Grand, chosen for us by Ulrich Gerhartz, Steinway’s Head of Artist & Concert Services, is maintained by Steinways and tuned by them immediately before each performance.

After the concert we offer a delicious buffet tea of freshly-made sandwiches, savouries, homemade cakes and chocolate biscuits, with a choice of a glass of excellent wine, tea, coffee or juice. The artists usually attend the tea and you can meet them. Tea tickets are sold on the door. They are £10 (standard), £5 for students and schoolchildren. We can cater for up to 70.

He will play

• Schubert – Four Impromptus, Op. 90, D 899
• Beethoven – Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 “Moonlight”
• Chopin – Barcarolle in F-sharp major, Op. 60
• Chopin – Three Mazurkas, Op. 50
• Chopin – Ballade No. 3 in A-flat major, Op. 47
• Chopin – Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp minor, Op. 39