Vilnius Piano Festival. The Winners’ Tandem: Evren Ozel and Anna Geniušienė

Performers:
ANNA GENIUŠIENĖ (piano)
EVREN OZEL (piano, USA)

Programme:
ROBERT SCHUMANN – Cycle Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), Op. 82
MIKALOJUS KONSTANTINAS ČIURLIONIS – Ruduo (Autumn), VL 264; Sėjau rūtą (I Sowed the Rue), VL179
CLAUDE DEBUSSY – Cycle Estampes (Prints), CD 108, L. 100
DOMENICO SCARLATTI – Sonatas for keyboard: in G major, K. 427; in C minor, K. 11; in C major, K. 159
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN – Sonata for piano No. 30 in E major, Op. 109
MIKALOJUS KONSTANTINAS ČIURLIONIS – Lakštingala (Nightingale), VL 268; Tėve mūsų (Pater Noster), VL 260
BÉLA BARTÓK – Suite for piano Szabadban (Out of Doors), Sz. 81, BB 89

Tonight, the 9th Vilnius Piano Festival hosts a double recital featuring two pianists who have won silver medals at prestigious competitions in the US. They will perform a programme spanning various eras, genres, and styles.

Pianist Anna Geniušienė won the silver medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition 2022. “Powerhouse sound, forceful musical personality, and sheer virtuosity...” – this is how critics described the pianist in Musical America magazine. In July of the same year, Musical America named Geniušienė the Young Artist of the Month, and in June 2023, her photo graced the cover of Pianist magazine. The pianist gave her first recital at the Berlin Philharmonic at the age of seven. Since then, Geniušienė has become an artist performing in the most important concert halls in Europe, America, and Asia, paying great attention to chamber music. Among Geniušienė’s most important achievements in recent years are recitals at the Kennedy Center in Washington, the Konzerthaus in Vienna, the Tonhalle in Zurich, and various music festivals.

Pianist Evren Ozel from the United States won the second prize at the Cleveland International Piano Competition last year and the third prize at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition this year. Ozel is often described as a pianist of ‘refined restraint,’ combining smooth virtuosity with insightful, thoughtful interpretations. He made his debut with the Minnesota Orchestra at the age of 11 and is now the principal soloist of several US symphony orchestras, performing extensively in the US and abroad with a wide repertoire ranging from J. S. Bach and J.-Ph. Rameau to G. Ligeti. At the end of July this year, Ozel recorded two piano concertos by W. A. Mozart with the Vienna ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra and conductor Howard Griffiths for the Alpha Classics record label.

The Vilnius Piano Festival is sponsored by “Allianz Lietuva”, with support from Vilnius City Municipality, Vilnius Club, Saulius Karosas Charity and Support Foundation, Urbo Bank, and the French Institute.