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The Ukraine-born Russian pianist, Konstantin Lifschitz, became irresistibly attracted to the piano as a very small child. His aptitude for the chosen instrument was so remarkable, that at the age of five he enrolled in the renowned Gnessin Special Middle School of Music and began his studies with Tatiana Zelikman. In 1990 the Russian Culture Foundation awarded him a scholarship to perform in Paris, Munich, Milan and other prominent music centers in Europe. These concerts brought him Konstantin Lifschitz to the attention of Vladimir Spivakov. The latter arranged for Konstantin to perform as soloist with the Moscow Virtuosi in Moscow and on tour in Japan performing Bach's Concerto in D minor in Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Following this tour, he performed with Vladimir Spivakov in Monte Carlo and Antibes in performances of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Orchestra Philharmonique de Monte Carlo.
At 13, Konstantin Lifschitz presented a landmark recital in the chamber hall of the Russian Academy of Music. The capacity crowd responded with an overwhelming enthusiasm that even then established him as a major artist, ready to take his place alongside the masters of Russian piano legend. In 1994, he presented his graduation recital from Gnessin Special Middle School of Music in Moscow - his program commenced with Bach's Goldberg Variations (BWV 988). Denon Records recorded the 17-year-old in this deeply felt interpretation of his beloved Bach. This recording, when released in 1996, was nominated for a Grammy Award and moved critic Edward Rothstein (The New York Times) to regard Lifschitz performance "the most powerful pianistic interpretation since Gould."
Though he had previously performed in Italy with Claudio Scimone and I Solisti Veneti, Konstantin recital debut at the Società dei Concerti series in Milan and the subsequent critical acclaim established him as a favorite in Italy. In January of 1995, Konstantin Lifschitz moved to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music and made his debut at the Wigmore Hall, the Verdi Hall in Milan, and North American debut at Le Domaine Forget in Canada. He has also performed widely throughout Holland, France, Austria, Germany, Spain and Japan. Also in 1995 he won the German Echo Classic Record Prize, as a "New Young Artist" of the year. In 2004, the London Royal Academy of Music honoured him by making him a Fellow, which followed my being made an Associate two years earlier by The Committee of the Royal Musical Institutions.
Though he gives a large number of recitals and concerts with principal world orchestras, Konstantin Lifschitz is still very dedicated to performing chamber music with his colleagues and peers. His collaborators include the violinists Gidon Kremer and Leila Josefowicz, and the cellists Misha Maisky and Lynn Harrell. Konstantin Lifschitz' interpretations are pervaded by the spirit of our age: you can sense the influences of Glenn Gould in the freedom of expression and his own stamp distinctive for its dramatic flair and gracefulness. |
