MKČ26 | FESTIVAL OPENING | CYPRIEN KATSARIS

The XIV International M. K. Čiurlionis Music Festival opens its Vilnius season with a true sensation – a first encounter with the legendary pianist Cyprien Katsaris.
Performing in Lithuania for the very first time, the French pianist of Cypriot origin is celebrated for his virtuosity and highly individual interpretations, often described by critics as phenomenal.

What sets Katsaris apart among the world’s leading pianists is his brilliant technique, distinctive sound world, exceptional musical imagination, daring improvisations and remarkable ability to draw the listener deep into the many-layered universe of music.

Having begun playing the piano at the age of four, Katsaris went on to become a laureate of numerous prestigious international competitions. He has received major musical distinctions, French and Luxembourg orders for services to culture, and was designated a UNESCO Artist for Peace.

His concert career spans the globe – from Europe to the United States and Asia. Katsaris has performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors. He was the first pianist to record Franz Liszt’s transcriptions of all nine Beethoven symphonies, and he later founded his own record label, Piano 21, devoted to world-premiere recordings and rarely performed repertoire.

For the Vilnius audience, this extraordinary pianist will perform works by L. van Beethoven, F. Liszt, F. Chopin, M. Ravel and C. Saint-Saëns, M. K. Čiurlionis and improvisations by C. Katsaris himself.