Czech Pianist to Hold Two Concerts
A young Czech pianist is to give two concerts in Zimbabwe as the guest of Celebrity Subscription Concerts of Harare and Performing Arts Bulawayo.
Libor Novacek, who was born in Prague but is now based in London, will play music by Brahms, Lizst and Janacek in the performances scheduled for Sunday October 14 in Harare (4pm) and Tuesday October 16 in Bulawayo (7.30pm).
The concerts will take place at the Harare International School and at the Robert Sibson Hall in Bulawayo. Mr Novacek brings with him a wealth of experience on the international classical music scene, despite his relative youth.
He was born in 1979 into a musical family and later studied at the Teplice Conservatoire and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, under Joan Havill. He graduated with first class honours in 2002 and completed a master’s degree with distinction the following year, winning the Guildhall’s highest honour, the Concert Recital Diploma. He was immediately selected for the Young Concert Artists’ Trust and appointed a Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
In 2005 he won the Landor Records Competition, leading to a long-term recording contract with this renowned classical music label, for which his first two CDs - featuring music of Janacek, Martinu, Ravel, Debussy and Liszt - received outstanding reviews.
In February 2007 his Liszt CD was Editor’s Choice in Gramophone magazine and in June this year he was awarded a Diplom d’Honneur by the Hungarian Liszt International Record Grand Priz. Future projects include discs of music by Brahms and Liszt, to be recorded during the coming year. Other awards he has won include first prize at the North London Music Festival and at the John Lill Piano Competition, as well as a win at the Tunbridge Wells Young Artist Competition.
During the past few years, his performances as a soloist and with orchestras have taken him to North and South America, Spain, France, Germany and India. He also made his debut at the famed Wigmore Hall in London.
He has performed with the Prague Chamber Orchestra, Prague Chamber Philharmony, Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, English Sinfonia, Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra, European Union Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
“He is young yet already much acclaimed and we look forward to this, his second, visit to Zimbabwe and to his selection of music for the two concerts here,” said Frans Eigenraam, chairman of Celebs.
Advance booking for the concerts is already open and tickets will also be available at the venues.
[Via The Herald]
