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The Bulgarian pianist, Hristo Kazakov, had his first piano lessons at the age of 4. From 1981 he studied at the “Ljubomir Pipkov” Musical School, graduating in 1992 with distinction. In 1984 he won 3rd prize at the National Piano Competition “Svetoslav Obretenov”. He was awarded the 3rd prize at the National Chamber Music competition “Johannes Brahms“. From 1992 to 1996 he engaged in advanced studies at the “Pancho Vladigerov” National Academy of Music in Professor Dimo Dimov’s class, supplemented by concert performances, seminars and teaching assignments on contemporary classical music. After earning his Master’s Degree from the National Music Academy, he got a scholarship to the Music Academy in Fontainebleau. In France, he participated in master-classes with musicians like Philippe Entremont, Philippe Bianconi and Frédéric Aguessy with special interest in the music of French impressionism.
Meanwhile Hristo Kazakov has performed a substantial part of Debussy’s piano works. He works and lives in Switzerland. His concerts with works by J.S. Bach and especially his interpretation of The Art of the Fugue (BWV 1080) as well as the Goldberg Variations (BWV 988) received enthusiastic acclaim as did his artistic rendering of Debussy’s 24 Preludes. Performing both as a soloist and as an ensemble musician (among others with English violinist David Whiston, German violinist Volker Biesenbender, Swiss violinist Hansheinz Schneeberger), he has toured in Switzerland, Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, England, Bulgaria). He highlighted works from Skrjabin, Ravel, Debussy and Ferruccio Busoni in various concerts as well as performances of W.A. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23. K. 488 and recitals with compositions from Robert Schumann, Schubert, L.v. Beethoven and Sergei Rachmaninov. He recently played Frédéric Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor with the Orchestre Symphonique du Jura. In August 2008, he was invited to perform at the Menuhin-Festival in Gstaad. 2009 Composer Portraits of Skrjabin, Ravel, Debussy und F. Busoni in Dornach; in 2010 January J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations (BWV 988) in Tokyo/Japan.
Recordings were made for the Bulgarian National Television and RFI France.
Hristo Kazakov has made various recordings as a concert soloist with the National Radio and TV in Bulgaria and RFI France. |
