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Prokofiev Piano TranscriptionsTemirzhan Yerzhanov, piano Cinderella Suites
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"...his is an extraordinary talent whose playing on this album is quite frankly nothing short of astonishing."
Jeff Perkins - BlogCritics.org
Reviews:
"Yerzhanov closes the program with a world premiere recording of Prokofiev's own solo piano transcription of his wonderful Classical Symphony. Since I am one of those unusual people who regularly listen to symphonic repertoire in arrangements for piano, this item was particularly welcome.… I was particularly impressed by both the arrangement and the execution of the Finale from the Symphony, with all of its repeated notes at a blistering tempo.
"This is a must for collectors of Prokofiev,… [Yerzhanov] has the perfect temperament and all the technical skill to make this a worthy addition to your music library."
Harrington - American Record Guide full text
"In sum, this disc can be warmly recommended to those who like to spot young talent…"
Peter J. Rabinowitz - Fanfare full text
"All the superlatives have been used before and sadly there is no well of unused ones for me to explore in order to add my own. Suffice it to say that his is an extraordinary talent whose playing on this album is quite frankly nothing short of astonishing.
"Being labeled naturally gifted often belies the sheer dedication required to perform such intricate and challenging pieces as 'effortlessly' as this. What the term does say, however, is that Temirzhan's playing conveys a talent so at ease with the music, it is as though his deep understanding and respect for the compositions literally radiates from the very recording itself."
Jeff Perkins - BlogCritics.org full text
Biography
''No doubt he is a rare phenomenon among pianists'', reads an Orpheus International review of Temirzhan Yerzhanov's Gewandhaus debut recital. Praised for ''the powerful dynamism and sheer inexhaustible energy with which he captivates his audiences'', he started his career by winning the First Prize and Gold Medal at the XIth International Robert Schumann Piano Competition 1993 in Zwickau, Germany, one of the most respected in the world. The first pianist from the unknown Kazakhstan on an international stage, Mr.Yerzhanov since then has become popular not only in his home country, but also has toured in Germany, Russia, UK, France, Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic, USA, China and India.
He has played as a soloist with such orchestras as Zwickauer Philharmonisches, The Kazakh Philharmonic, Soloists of Moscow Radio Tchaikovsky Symphony, Sacramento Philharmonic, Kazakh Abai Opera and Astana National Opera Orchestras, San Luis Obispo Symphony, New American Chamber, The Symphony Orchestra of India, TuranAlem Philharmonic and many others. Temirzhan Yerzhanov has appeared in a wide range of venues such as Berlin Konzerthaus and Leipzig Gewandhaus, Moscow Conservatory's Grand, Small and Rachmaninov Halls, Schumann and Tchaikovsky Memorial Houses, Dresden Sempergalerie, Paris' Salle Pleyel, Moscow and St Petersburg Philharmonic Halls, New York's Merkin Hall, Bombay National Performing Center, just to name a few.
Mr. Yerzhanov has been featured on broadcasts of BBC Radio, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russian State Television Culture Channel, Capital Radio Sacramento, KCBX Public Radio, Khabar Television and Kazakh State Television and Radio. Deutsche Radio Berlin and Hong Kong State Radio have made his studio recordings and also presented him in live broadcasts and talk show. He garnered many praises for his first solo CD album of Schumann's works released by RCD label.
Temirzhan Yerzhanov also established himself as a collaborative artist and ensemble musician. Russia's leading music magazine Muzykalnaya Zhizn lauded his special interest in vocal music: "Only a few pianists are capable of being "at one" with singer, to be a creator and an artist. As an example for others - brilliant Temirzhan Yerzhanov". He has given numerous concerts, performing with well-known artists such as male alto Erik Kurmangaliev, clarinetist Michael Collins, soprano Elena Kelessidi, violinist Marat Bisengaliev. Conductors, he has played with, include Vladimir Fedoseev, Lothar Seyfarth, Fuat Mansurov, Michael Morgan and Johannes Wildner.
A diverse musician, Mr. Yerzhanov is at home in classical and contemporary repertories. He tirelessly premieres new works almost in every concert. His most memorable projects were Rossini's Petite Messe Sollennele and the jubilee recital Prokofiev. Almaty. 1942-1943, featuring all the piano scores that composer wrote during his residency in Kazakhstan. His New York debut at the Merkin Hall was marked by the World premiere of Almas Serkebaev's Concerto No3 and his San Francisco debut recital included US premiere of Igor Khudoley's Boris Godunov Suite, a work both virtuosic and profound.
A native of Almaty, Temirzhan Yerzhanov studied since his early years in Moscow at the Central Music School and later graduated there from the Tchaikovsky State Conservatory under Professor Mikhail Voskressensky. While a student, he was awarded the Albert Russel Prize of Paris Ecole Normal Conservatoire at the International Piano Competition in Senigallia, Italy.
Upon a graduation he was honored to become a faculty member of his alma mater. Having had held this position for four years, he moved to the USA in 2002 to develop his career in a new direction. The Economist noted then: ''Temirzhan Yerzhanov is leaving Russia to make his career in the United States. Other pianists - Dmitri Alexeev, Andrey Gavrilov and Mikhail Pletnev - have preferred international performing careers"
San Francisco Classical Voice recently pronounced Mr.Yerzhanov as the only instrumental soloist Best Performer of 2007. His upcoming engagements include recitals in Bonn, Zwickau and Freireuth, Germany; in Manchester, UK; at the Moscow Conservatory and Kazakh Philharmonic Hall; Tchaikovsky's Concerto No1 with Diablo Symphony; London debut at Wigmore Hall.
Live Concert Reviews:
"Temirzhan Yerzhanov proved to be an outstanding performer for his ability to unite contrasting musical feelings into the unity of passion and moving sincerity...With various touch he could get an unprecedented and rich in tinges palette of colors."
Zwickauer Zeitung, Zwickau
"In the final evening of the festival the audience were in a sensation: Temirzhan Yerzhanov performed Schumann's F minor sonata spectacularly, with great emotion and virtuosity"
Nevskoe Vremya, S-Petersburg
"Yerzhanov demonstrated the highest level of mastery, the best traditions of romantic pianism, real spirituality, subtlety and poetry. The individuality of the performer was shown particularly in his performances of Schumann and Brahms and in his stupendous encores, where his skill in miniatures was close to perfection."
Novaya Muzykalnaya Gazeta, Almaty
"In the first round Temirzhan Yerzhanov attracted the jury's attention with his performance of Gesange der Fruhe. In the second round his interpretation of Davidsbunlertanze was original and artistically complete. Finally, he distinguished himself with Schumann's Piano Concerto."
Muzykalnaya Zhizn, Moscow
"Temirzhan Yerzhanov's performance Schumann`s Concerto successfully combined the depth of feeling and energetic rhythmical strength. His performance was remarkable for its plasticity and precisely logical form... Yerzhanov united various moods by creating a totally fresh interpretation."
Freie Presse, Chemnitz
"Only a few pianists are capable of being 'at one' with the singer, to be a creator and an artist. As an example for others - brilliant Temirzhan Yerzhanov."
Muzykalnaya Zhizn, Moscow
"His artistic maturity was revealed in Romanze (Faschingsschwank aus Wien). It is rare to hear such dramatically passionate interpretation of this movement... It was a great event to listen to Yerzhanov`s performance."
Zwickauer Zeitung, Zwickau
"Yerzhanov is the best pianist to be heard in San Luis Obispo County since Jeffrey Kahane, and is, if not better, certainly equal."
Journal, San Luis Obispo
"Guest piano soloist Temirzhan Yerzhanov tore through Mozart's diabolical, digitally demanding last concerto like so much child's play...His sterling rendition of the concerto enjoyed harmonious balance with orchestra."
Sacramento Bee, Sacramento
"He has made each piece in his repertoire distinctively his own...It was like a jeweler polishing his stones and placing each one neatly into a grand design. What matters most and will sustain him...is super-abundant talent."
New Times, San Luis Obispo
"Pianist Temirzhan Yerzhanov made an impressive debut at the Annenberg Theater. Yerzhanov's forte was a series of Chopin works, including a radiant Fantasy in F minor, two nicely nuanced nocturnes redolent with trills, an impassioned Scherzo in B-flat major and the famous Grand Polonaise, played with uncommon flair."
The Desert Sun, Palm Springs
"Running arpeggios with dazzling technique, changing intensities from whisper to volcanic, Yerzhanov showed the audience he has the emotional content to understand the music along with the dexterity to perform it."
Journal, San Luis Obispo
''Mill Valley Chamber Music Society's third concert of the new season brought to a full-house audience a varied program of cello scores, impeccably performed by Alexei Romanenko and pianist Temirzhan Yerzhanov. The second movement, Adagio con molto sentimento d'affecto, and the third Allegro fugue, was performed with rich feeling and virtuosity. Mr. Yerzhanov was completely secure here and all evening, providing solid support''
North Bay Classical Music, Santa Rosa
''This pianist's captivating personality and outstanding playing enabled him to reveal the many-facetted structures of the work by R. Schumann.''
Eichstattler Kurier, Germany
"For most of Saturday's audience, the first half was the highpoint, thanks to returning guest pianist Temirzhan Yerzhanov and his essay on Chopin's Second Piano Concerto. Chopin, not Sibelius, got the evening's standing ovation. Why not? This handsome young Kazakh is an extremely technical pianist, a world-class specialist in Schumann and the Russians, and his charisma radiated romantic passion through the hall."
The Tribune, San Luis Obispo
"Daniel Cilli pretty well covered the basics by using a major Schumann lieder cycle, as well as American, French, Italian and British groups of songs, with excellent support from pianist Temirzhan Yerzhanov...Of course, Cilli also had the advantage of Yerzhanov's virtuosity. The pianist coped with the occasionally demonic technical feats Schumann demands, not to mention the large solo epilogue... Together, their training and experience added up to a sterling performance."
San Francisco Classical Voice
''As Yerzhanov`s finger tips were bouncing on the keys, the melodies presented tenacious strength in an repressive atmosphere which nurtured power. Its power got accumulated and increased... upon completing a piece, the audience was deeply intoxicated by the impact of the music, the large auditorium was pin-dropping quiet with only the resonance of the piano music.''
Yantai Daily, China
"Young piano sensation Temirzhan Yerzhanov had just wowed the room with an intense performance of the Rachmaninoff 's Second Piano Concerto. He has an impetuous, heroic sense of this concertos emotional dynamic."