The leading pianists in the world in Nicosia recital

Leading young pianists from all around the world are set to perform in front of the Cypriot public next month as the local Avantgarde Cultural Foundation continues to be part of the Steinway Prizewinner Concerts Network (SPCN), hosting the winners of famous competitions right after their success.

The October concerts are part of the Great Pianists of the 21st Century concert series which was launched two years ago and since then hosts the first prize winners of the greatest piano competitions in the world. The SPCN is an initiative of the famous German piano manufacturer Steinway & Sons and the renowned concert hall Gewandhaus in Leipzig. It is comprised of some of the leading piano competitions and cultural institutions from around the world and ensures that today’s top young pianists, who succeed in the most demanding and fiercely competitive competitions on the planet, appear in the biggest music halls and major musical metropolises of the world.

“The inclusion of Nicosia and the Avantgarde Cultural Foundation in this network is an important success for our country,” say organisers, “since our audience has the unique opportunity to admire excellent performances by talented young pianists while our country is presented internationally through an important cultural network.”

This year, Cyprus audiences will have the opportunity to admire three more pianists who have just been distinguished for their performances. In two of the three cases, the competitions have just been completed and Cyprus is the first stop of their international tour through the Steinway Network. These are Fuko Ishii from Japan (First Prize winner of the Edvard Grieg International Piano Competition 2022, Norway), Olga Davnis from Russia (First Prize winner of the Leipzig International JS Bach Piano Competition 2022, Germany) and Alim Beisembayev from Kazakhstan (First Prize winner of The Leeds International Piano Competition 2021, UK). All three recitals will take place at the Strovolos Municipal Theatre on October 12, 14 and 19 respectively.

Their concerts in Cyprus are important for the local art scene. “The Cypriot audience has the unique opportunity to admire on stage excellent young pianists who are today the first choice of the biggest halls from around the world and are the new generation of great pianists of our century. Imagine seeing Vladimir Ashkenazy in 1956 right after his success at the Queen Elisabeth competition or Martha Argerich in 1957 right after her success at the Ferruccio Busoni competition. Only with this comparison, one can understand the importance of what we have the opportunity to admire today through this particular institution,” local organisers say.

Adding to the significance of the series, president of the Foundation Stavros Kyriakides said: “The main concern of the Avantgarde Cultural Foundation has always been the strengthening of the musical education in our country, audience development and the establishment of Cyprus as an important cultural centre. The inclusion of our country in one such important cultural network serves all three of these goals and it fills us with pride to see the winners of such important international competitions include Cyprus in their engagements.”

Great Pianists of the 21st Century

Concert series by Fuko Ishii, Olga Davnis and Alim Beisembayev. October 12, 14 and 19. Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Nicosia. 8pm. Tel: 22-313010