World Renowned Pianist Set For Belper Concert

Sergei Podobedov has been described by conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky as: “a magnificent pianist who possesses outstanding virtuosic skills combined with true musicality and a refined sense of style.”

Known as one of the world’s finest pianists, Sergei is set to play a concert in Belper.

Since making his orchestral debut at the age of 12 performing Chopin’s 2nd Piano Concerto, Podobedov has toured throughout the world performing the major concert repertoire, new works and also fully improvised recitals. A concert at the Purcell Rooms for the BBC prompted Jeremy D Rowe of Wagner News to write: “The astonishing Russian virtuoso pianist Sergei Podobedov whose breath-taking readings of both Prokofiev and Chopin had the audience enthralled.”

Producer George Gunby said: “Sergei is a world class pianist. He is a very exciting performer and the audience can expect something special. His concert is another sign that Belper is becoming a centre of art excellence.

Recent concerts have featured cellist Sheku Kanneh Mason, guitarist James Rippingale, sopranos Margaret Keys and Karen England plus ‘This Man’, an oratorio by Anne De Waal.

Sergei has performed at London’s Wigmore Hall, Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Hall, the Bolshoi Hall of The Moscow Conservatory, San Francisco’s Herbst Theater, among others. In 1990 he was the first ever recipient of a Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother Scholarship at the Royal College of Music and was also the youngest ever winner of the Edward Boyle Award in London.

 

In 1991 he performed and collaborated with Sir John Gielgud at Windsor Castle at the Queen Mother’s special invitation. Sergei is a graduate of The Moscow Central School of Music, The Tchaikovsky Conservatory and The Royal College of Music.

For the Belper concert Sergei will include works by Chopin and Schumann along with a few surprises.

“I’m looking forward to the concert. People in Belper have been very welcoming,” said Sergei. “It will be fun to play in a space as intimate as the Hall at Strutts.”

Sergei Podobedov is  in concert on 22 September 2018 at the Strutt Centre, Derby Road, Belper.

Tickets are available from OXFAM BOOKS, King St., Belper and online www.belperartsfestival.org and are priced at £15 for adults and £12 for Under 16s.