Piano recital, Alexandre Karpeev

Alexander Karpeev

"The Russian pianist explores the works of the composer-pianists Chopin, Liszt and Medtner.

The programme:

Frédéric CHOPIN: Fantasie, Op. 49, Largo, Moderato, Impromptu, Op. 36, Impromptu, WN46

Nikolay MEDTNER: Idyll Sonata, Op. 56

Ferenc LISZT: Reminiscences of Don Juan

Biography of the artist :

Recently named 'One to Watch' by International Piano, Alexander Karpeyev is a London-based Russian pianist who performs regularly in the UK and abroad in recital, chamber music and as soloist with orchestra. Endowed with a rare sensitivity and exceptional technique, Alexander often distinguishes himself by the remarkable intelligence of his interpretations. A graduate of the Moscow National Conservatory (class of A. Mndoyants and V. Gornotsaeva) and the Guildhall School of Music and Dramatic Art in London (class of Joan Havill), Alexandre subsequently devoted a doctoral thesis to the interpretation of the works of Nicolas Medtner, a composer and pianist of the Silver Age. Since then, he has become an ambassador for Medtner, whom Rachmaninov considered to be "the greatest composer of [his] time", and has organised several international festivals dedicated to the work of this composer, who remains an enigma to many. Alexandre Karpeyev has won numerous international piano prizes (Oxford Music Festival Competition, Dudley International Piano Competition, Gold Medal Competition, Worshipful Company of Musicians, Norah Sande Award in Eastbourne) and developed a concert career that has propelled him to the forefront of the most prestigious venues in London and the UK (Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, Barbican, King's Place). His performances received rave reviews in the music press and were broadcast on BBC and television. Karpeyev is constantly refining his concert programmes, drawing much of his inspiration from the romantic literature of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He has a particular interest in discovering the 'pearls' of the little-known piano repertoire and specialises fervently in studying the works of pianist[1] composers.

Some press reviews

It was too late: an audience already transfigured expressed its verdict with a standing ovation.

James Latt, International Piano Magazine, 2018

We heard a first-class recital, given by a pianist whose all-too-frequent appearances on our concert stage are all too regrettable'.

Robert Beattie, Seen and Heard, 2017

With an admirable technique so characteristic of the Russian school, the young Russian pianist Alexandre Karpeyev held the Kings Place audience spellbound, radiating simplicity and serenity, almost casualness'.

Michael White, Catholic Herald, 2017

A most brilliant recital... Karpeyev managed to bring both power and the delicate subtleties of nuance and rhythm to an intense programme. What style, what stamina!

Andrew Connal, Latest 7, 2015

DISCOGRAPHY

Russian Émigré Composers | Claudio Records, 2018

An extremely impressive first recording. The performance of the Medtner Sonata is comparable to the composer's best recordings, including those by Hamelin, Tozer and Milne.

Robert Beattie, MusicWeb International

Prokofiev's Fugitive Visions Op.22 [are] perfectly chosen and presented by Karpeyev. It is good to hear the [Medtner] Sonata-Ballade in a version that rivals Hamelin's.' Karpeyev's grasp of the structure of the piece is remarkable. Karpeyev's grasp of the structure of the piece is remarkable; it exudes a rare fluidity of great beauty'.

Colin Clarks, International Piano

This is one of the finest discs of Russian piano music I have heard recently. The musical selection is one of the most intelligent of these five composers, and the performance of this intensely artistic young virtuoso is absolutely outstanding throughout. [...] A truly cutting-edge release. Detailed commentary is unnecessary'.

Robert Matthew-Walker, Musical Opinion

Composers at the Savile Club | SOMM Recordings, 2019

A jewel ... none of these pieces can be described as bland or mannered. There is no doubt that Karpeyev is a major artist in this lovingly crafted work.

Phillip Scott, Limelight Magazine, Australia

'An elegant and polished programme of British repertoire that will be greatly appreciated'.

Jonathan Woolf, MusicWeb International

These two pieces [Parry's Prelude and Thomsons' Nineteen Portraits] reveal Karpeyev's extraordinary ability to move from one idiom to another, creating the required atmosphere from the outset... The lively changes of mood in Arnold's Variations are perfectly echoed in Karpeyev's lively replicas, which relay with virtuosity the light melodious movements and the more muscular technical passages... a recital in every way worthy of exploration.'

Terry Blain, BBC Music Magazine

Medtner Songs, with Sofia Fomina | Chandos Records, 2021

'... this rewarding work completes a [Medtner] discography that is strangely rare. Paul Riley, BBC Music Magazine '... perfectly at home in Medtner's style.

Robert Hugill, www.planethugill.com

... this recording is the fruit of a serious piece of work, worthy of adding to the vocal collection of every music lover.

Azusa Ueno, The Classic Review

Medtner's pianistic writing is as complex as that of Rachmaninoff. Alexandre Karpeyev proves equal to the task, excelling with his fiery fingering in works such as Arion or in the more virtuoso parts of Elegy, considered to be one of Medtner's most refined songs'.

Mark Pullinger, Gramophone

CONCERTOS

Beethoven Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15

Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37

Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 Brahms

Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15

Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83 Chopin

Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21 Grieg

Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 Liszt

Concerto No 1 in E flat major Medtner

Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 50 Mozart

Concerto No 14 in E flat major, K449

Concerto No 20 in D minor, K466 Prokofiev

Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26 Rachmaninoff

Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op. 1

Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 Saint-Saëns

Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 Shostakovich

Concerto No. 2 in F major, Op. 102 Tchaikovsky

Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23