Illia Ovcharenko
Acclaimed Ukrainian pianist and Honens laureate Illia Ovcharenko returns to the Cecilian Chamber Series to unveil a Fantasy-inspired program showcasing Liszt’s epic Dante Sonata. The 25-year-old has taken the piano world by storm, having been awarded prizes in more than 20 worldwide competitions.
Ovcharenko has already been praised for his technical mastery, perseverance against adversity, and a unique intellectual and emotional understanding of musical text. He has appeared as a soloist with orchestras including the Orchestre National d’Île de France, the Orchestra of La Monnaie, the Toronto Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, and the Jerusalem and Haifa Symphony Orchestras, in recital at venues and Festivals including Carnegie Hall, the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Sendesaal in Hannover, Robert Schumann-Saal in Düsseldorf, Salle Bourgie and Domaine Forget, as well as Bravo! Vail, the Gstaad Menuhin Festival, and the Dresden International Festival.
In the words of Illia himself:
“I have constructed this program to focus on the musical concept of Fantasy. It is fascinating to hear the variety in their approaches from composers of different eras. Beethoven used the form to challenge Classical rules, while Schumann poured his most intense, personal emotions into his work. Kosenko presents a voice of profound lyrical poetry from my cultural home, Ukraine. Finally, the program culminates in Liszt’s dramatic Dante Sonata. This recital is all about that shared, total freedom of imagination.
In music, the term “fantasy” originated in the 16th century and from the outset was rooted in improvisation. The spontaneous spirit of the Fantasy has remained across the centuries – it is music ‘for the moment’, brought alive by Illia Ovcharenko’s personal musical voice.
Programme:
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata no. 13, in E flat major, Op. 27 No. 1 ‘Quasi una Fantasia’
Robert Schumann: Fantaisie, Op. 17
—Intermission—
Victor Kosenko: Nocturne – Fantaisie in C-sharp minor, Op. 4
Victor Kosenko: Poeme – Fantaisies, Op.11 No. 3, ‘Tragic’
Franz Liszt: Après une lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi Sonata
