In the program:
Ludwig van Beethoven - Sonata in E major, op. 109
Johannes Brahms:
Intermezzo in B minor, Op. 117 no. 2
Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 118 no. 1
Intermezzo in A major, Op. 118 no. 2
Intermezzo in E flat minor, Op. 118 no. 6
Intermezzo in B minor, Op. 119 no. 1
Rhapsody in E flat major, Op. 119 no. 4
Ludwig van Beethoven - Sonata in A flat major, op. 110
Fryderyk Chopin:
Barcarole, op. 60
Ballade in F minor, Op. 52
The performance of Jan Krzysztof Broja, one of the most prominent Polish pianists, will be a real gift for the listeners of the Pažaislis Music Festival. Already after his debut at the Warsaw National Philharmonic, this performer was compared by critics to the most famous pianists of the last century, and in 2009 was nominated for a Grammy Award.
The pianist was born in Warsaw, studied in Frankfurt am Main, Hanover and Warsaw, became a laureate of many international pianist competitions. After a memorable victory in 1999 In the Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis pianist competition held in Vilnius, J. K. Broja was named "21st century" in the Lithuanian press. pianist" and then the doors to the prestigious halls of Europe, Asia and America opened for him. He organized numerous recitals, performed at many international piano festivals, and recorded his pianist's performances on radio and television programs in Poland, Spain, Germany, Great Britain, France, Japan, Colombia, Brazil, and the United States.
J. K. Broja collaborated with the world-famous director Roman Polanski during the production of the movie "The Pianist" as a personal musical consultant for the lead actor Adrien Brody. He played the piano part in the soundtrack of Andrzej Wajda's film "Sweet Rush" created by Pawel Mykietyn, and four years ago the pianist could be heard on the screens of cinemas all over the world on the soundtrack of Šarūnas Bart's film "Sherkšnas". CDs recorded by J.K. Broja are released by such record companies as "Naxos" or "ICA Classics".
The pianist talks about his relationship with music as follows: "To be a musician, a composer, an improviser and be without passion is simply an impossible combination that is immediately doomed." So it is not surprising that two of the last three sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven will be played in the program chosen by J. K. Broja for the Pažaislis festival. The 30th entices the listener with its intimate, less dramatic character and stands out for its special lyricism, melodic and harmonic embellishments, ornaments and twists reminiscent of the works of Frederic Chopin. The 31st is characterized by a huge emotional spectrum: from the depths of absolute despair to complete euphoria. This sonata is incredibly compact, and its philosophical opening thought is like the thesis of the work, which permeates the entire sonata and reaches its apotheosis in the final moments. Romantic piano miniatures by Johannes Brahms will separate the two majestic works of the Viennese classics: the lyrical intermezzo and the epic, expressive rhapsody.
