Macedonian pianist SIMON TRPČESKI has established himself as one of the most remarkable musicians on the global stage, performing with 100+ orchestras on 4 continents with leading conductors on the most prestigious venues. Mr. Trpčeski is recognized for his powerful virtuosity and deeply expressive approach, as well as his charismatic ability to connect with diverse audiences worldwide and his commitment to strengthening Macedonia’s cultural heritage.
Mr. Trpčeski has collaborated with a long list of eminent conductors that includes Lorin Maazel, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Marin Alsop, Gustavo Dudamel, Gianandrea Noseda, Charles Dutoit, Antonio Pappano, Michael Tilson Thomas, Cristian Măcelaru, and Vasily Petrenko. As an experienced pianist, he is also a popular collaborator amongst next-generation of high profile conductors, including Alpesh Chauhan, Jakub Hruša, Gabriel Bebeșelea, Dalia Stasevska, Elim Chan, and Dima Slobodeniuk.
Simon Trpčeski has recorded all of Rachmaninoff’s concertos as well as much of his solo keyboard output, and that experience was manifest in his no-holds-barred performance Thursday night. Launched with a punchy opening fanfare by Hrůša and the orchestra, Trpčeski leaped into the unbridled virtuosity of the opening movement, bringing the requisite power and panache as well as relaxing into the aching lyricism of the second theme.
The Macedonian pianist is a theatrical presence at the keyboard but he undoubtedly has the chops, tackling the fistfuls of notes with blazing speed and command, and putting across the youthful impetuosity of this score. Trpčeski artfully drew out the limpid theme of the Andante, and the final movement was as fast and exciting as one could ask, with Hrůša and the orchestra providing equally galvanic support. As well as matching his soloist’s fiery style, Hrůša illuminated details one rarely hears in this work, such as the bassoons’ singing line under the piano in the slow movement.
The vociferous ovations brought Trpčeski back out for a solo encore by his compatriot, Dimitrije Bužarovski (with Hrůša taking a seat at the back of the stage to hear it as well). “Ne si go prodavaj, Koljo” is an arrangement of a Macedonian folk song, beginning in a spare and introspective manner with a sudden jazzy breakout in the middle before returning to the subdued melancholy of the opening. The pianist played Bužarovski’s music with great nuance and sensitivity.