In August, Ukrainian-born Australian pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk performs Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No.1 with the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
Find out more about his life and work ahead of his debut with the Orchestra.
Who is Alexander Gavrylyuk?
A stunningly virtuosic pianist, Alexander Gavrylyuk is internationally-recognised for his electrifying and poetic performances. His performance of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.3 at the BBC Proms was described as “revelatory” by The Times and “electrifying” by Limelight, and legendary pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy called him an “extraordinary talent”.
Born in Ukraine, Gavrylyuk began his piano studies at the age of seven, and gave his first concerto performance when he was just nine.
He moved to Australia at the age of 13.
He's the son of accordion players, and opted for the piano himself when encouraged. He was an unignorably prodigious talent.
He won First Prize and Gold Medal at the Horowitz International Piano Competition (1999), First Prize at the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition (2000), and Gold Medal at the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Masters Competition (2005).
Today he has a busy career as a soloist performing in the best concert halls in Europe and all over the world, and has released several recordings, including of music by Brahms, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev and Mussorgsky.
“An extraordinary talent.”Vladimir Ashkenazy
Overcoming serious injury
When he was 17 years old, Gavrylyuk was seriously injured in a car accident that put him in a coma for a day. He had to have surgery on an area of skull above his left eye. It took two surgeons and four hours to resolve, in an operation closely observed by his very worried piano teacher.
The pianist walked away with a scar on his forehead, but no other physical impact. He was incredibly lucky. And so is the music community.
In spite of a busy career in Europe and beyond, Gavrylyuk describes himself as always being drawn back to Australia, partly because of the accident: “It showed me the meaning of freedom, and it saved my life,” he says.
“Alexander Gavrylyuk is, easily, the most compelling pianist of his generation.”Limelight
BBC Proms Performance
Gavrylyuk regularly collaborates with the world’s best conductors, including Rafael Payare, Alexandre Bloch, Thomas Søndergård, Donald Runnicles, Juraj Valcuha, Kirill Karabits, Edward Gardner & Gustavo Gimeno.
When he performed Shostakovich’s monumental and beloved Piano Concerto No.3 at the BBC Proms – with conductor Thomas Dausgaard and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra – the pianist was hailed as “easily, the most compelling pianist of his generation” for his “revelatory” performance.
The power of music
Gavrylyuk is a big believer in music’s ability to connect and pacify society. “Not many things in this world can unite people – no form of diplomacy could ever do that,” he begins. “I think that music comes the furthest in revealing that perhaps on a deeper level we are all quite similar: when the audience reacts in one wave of emotion that to me is the most incredible and inspiring thing.”
He has spoken in interviews about how Classical and Romantic composers, even though working 200 or more years ago, are often expressing emotions and experiences still relevant to us today in their universal humanness.
“Gavrylyuk’s ease with Rachmaninov’s passagework was startling. Technique is one thing, taste is another. His triplets and trills were pert and crisp, the dissolves from smiles to sadness, and the clarity and quietness were revelatory.”The Times UK
In his debut with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, directed by Richard Tognetti, Gavrylyuk will perform as soloist in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Shostakovich’s witty, irreverent Piano Concerto No.1.
A chance to experience one of the best pianists of his generation. We can’t wait.
Gershwin & Shostakovich, directed by Richard Tognetti, tours to Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelade, Perth, Wollongong and Brisbane, 1-18 Aug. Click here to get tickets in your nearest city.
