ConcertPulse
Anna Geniushene / Piano Recital
Elbphilharmonie, Kleiner Saal (Hamburg)
The NDR describes her as the »new star in the pianist sky« and in fact Anna Geniushene has already been attracting attention for several years. The long-standing American magazine »Musical America« selected her as the Young Artist of the Month in July 2022 and was particularly impressed by her »powerful sound« and her »musical personality«. Also, the young Russian landed in first place in major competitions, such as the Leeds Piano Competition, Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Competition and the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition. The pianist is now a guest in the »Pianomania« series for the first time – with a varied programme fully in line with the theme of »Transcriptions«, which ranges from early Handel right up to the 20th century. In addition to two opera adaptations by Franz Liszt, you can also look forward to Fritz Kreisler’s bittersweet melodies »Liebesleid« and »Liebesfreud«, which none other than Sergei Rachmaninoff transposed from the violin to the piano. The six extremely solemn choral preludes from the quill of Johannes Brahms, which the Italian Ferruccio Busoni – perhaps the most ingenious arranger of the early modern period – arranged for the piano are in a completely different mood. Igor Stravinsky’s ballet fairy tale »The Firebird«, for which Italian pianist Guido Agosti created an extremely virtuoso piano arrangement from its flamboyant orchestral setting, is ultimately the brilliant conclusion.