Evgeny Kissin, Klavier

Evgeny Kissin has always gone his own way. His reputation as a child prodigy preceded him. In 1988, after a legendary performance with the Berlin Philharmonic and Herbert von Karajan, he became a superstar. But the success of his youth is by no means what characterises his artistic career. Kissin has established himself in the consciousness of the music world as an artist who is not interested in superficial showmanship. He expresses his convictions clearly, but does not shout them. He prefers to reveal them subtly on stage. The pianist says he deliberately included Chopin in his programme at the start of the war in Ukraine: Kissin is convinced that the Polish composer himself composed against the Russian occupation of his homeland. He also traces the opposition between tones in many Russian musical works. Evgeny Kissin also brings a programme rich in eloquent nuances to this year's recital at the Alte Oper.