A Special 'Four Hands' Performance by Two Russian Pianists

Kumho Art Hall's First 'International Masters Series' of the Year on the 20th
Featuring Russian Pianists Konstantin Lifshitz and Aleksei Volodin

[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] An uncommon stage featuring two Russian pianists performing 'Two Pianos' and 'Four Hands' will be held on the 20th at Kumho Art Hall Yonsei. 'Two Pianos' refers to two pianists each playing one of two pianos, while 'Four Hands' means two pianists sitting side by side at one piano playing together.

The two pianists presenting this special stage are Konstantin Lifschitz (44) and Alexei Volodin (43).

Lifschitz was born in 1976 in Kharkov, Ukraine. At the age of five, he studied under Tatiana Zelikman at the Gnessin State Musical College in Moscow and was recognized as the 'Second Kissin' at the young age of thirteen. In the early 1990s, he held solo recitals across European capitals funded by the Russian Cultural Foundation. He received the Echo Klassik Award in 1995 and gained worldwide acclaim with his 1996 release of Bach's Goldberg Variations, which was nominated for a Grammy Award.

In 2018 and last year, Lifschitz was invited to perform at Kumho Art Hall’s planned concerts, showcasing his signature pieces such as Bach’s Goldberg Variations and French Suites, fully demonstrating his expertise as a Bach specialist. In recent years, he has focused on Beethoven by performing the complete Beethoven sonatas on various stages. In March, he plans to officially release in Korea a 10-CD box set of all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas through Alpha Classics.

Volodin was born in 1977 in Saint Petersburg. He studied under Eliso Virsaladze at the Moscow Conservatory and is a Russian traditional pianist who worked as a resident musician at the Mariinsky Theatre, collaborating with the world-renowned conductor Valery Gergiev. Volodin is praised for his highly delicate touch and brilliant technique and performs on prestigious stages worldwide. This season, he will appear at the London Southbank Centre, Wigmore Hall, and the Concertgebouw’s Master Pianists series. Volodin’s extensive and unique repertoire spans classical and contemporary works, including Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Scriabin, Shchedrin, and Medtner. He held solo recitals at Kumho Art Hall in 2015 and 2018.

The two Russian pianists will fill the duo stage with Russian music. The first piece of the first part is 'Two Pieces for Two Pianos' by Russian composer and pianist Medtner, followed by Rachmaninoff’s 'Suite No. 2 for Two Pianos.' In the second part, they will perform 'The Rite of Spring, Ballet in Two Acts for Four Hands,' an arrangement of Stravinsky’s ballet 'The Rite of Spring' for piano duo, delivering the essence of intense Russian pianism.

The duo stage of Lifschitz and Volodin is the first concert of the 'International Masters Series' presented by Kumho Art Hall Yonsei this year. The 'International Masters Series' at Kumho Art Hall Yonsei showcases performances by world-renowned masters visiting Korea.

Following the duo stage of Lifschitz and Volodin, the French duo stage featuring oboist Fran?ois Leleux and pianist Emmanuel Strosser, known for their graceful and vibrant tones, will take place on April 16. Violinist Teddy Papavrami, performing his first concert in Korea with breathtakingly beautiful melodies and astonishing technique, will perform on May 28. Clarinetist Paul Meyer, one of the top clarinetists, will appear with his longtime partner pianist Eric Le Sage on June 25.

In the second half of the year, solo performances are scheduled by Tsutsumi Tsuyoshi, a cellist highly respected by fellow cellists; Denes Varjon, an elegant and passionate pianist representing Hungary; and Svetlin Roussev, a violinist who captivates audiences with overwhelming charisma and flawless performances.