
Liszt’s larger works for piano and orchestra (besides the two piano concertos, there is also the Totentanz) are, unfortunately, encountered less frequently in the concert hall than the piano concertos of other Romantic and late-Romantic composers (Schumann, Grieg, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff). Yet Liszt’s Second Piano Concerto in A major, in particular, is a fascinating work and— as last night’s enthusiastic applause from the audience proved—an utterly gripping and compelling composition. The Macedonian pianist Simon Trpčeski is its eloquent and subtly virtuosic advocate.
The way Trpčeski evokes the sometimes lyrical, then again more angular treatment of the core theme—at times surrounding it with crystalline runs, then stretching, shortening, and varying it as it is integrated into powerful chords—is a marvel of pianistic gift. Here, attack stands alongside sparkling cascades; the solo cello and the piano (and later the solo violin) meet in poetic, songful, dreamlike togetherness. This is shortly thereafter replaced by a brash gallop and a march-like elevation of the core theme, with virtuoso playing by the soloist and refined glissandi.
Striking is how the master at the piano repeatedly seeks and finds eye contact not only with the conductor, but also seems to embrace the orchestra’s musicians with his affectionate glances (and, during the final applause, physically as well)—and this despite the fact that the soloist is granted hardly a moment of rest in this concerto. For Trpčeski, as for Thomas Guggeis, this was the first appearance in the large hall of the Tonhalle Zürich. However, Trpčeski had already played Liszt’s piano concerto once before, in 2018, on a tour with the Tonhalle Orchestra.
As an encore, the two musicians, Guggeis and Trpčeski, sat down together at the piano and, with obvious pleasure, played Ravel’s Laideronnette, impératrice des pagodes from Ma mère l’Oye for piano four hands. Wonderful.

A timpani roll, and dramatic descending chords from pianist Simon Trpčeski, had audience members holding their breath in rapt anticipation. Trpčeski, known for his charismatic stage presence, delivered an electric performance, his fingers dancing across the keys. He was also not afraid to draw out pauses during his solos, adding suspenseful flair to his heroic intensity. Such artistry earned him a standing ovation well over a minute long.

The highlight of the evening was Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No.5 performed by Simon Trpčeski, one of the most interesting contemporary pianists. He chose the Petrof 275 concert grand piano for his performance in the Rudolfinum, and wonderfully leveraged the unique color properties of the instrument. Trpčeski is known for his ability to quickly establish a warm rapport with the audience, which he demonstrated in the Rudolfinum. The audience showed their appreciation for the soloist and the orchestra with thunderous applause. For one of his encores, he performed the 3rd movement from Prokofiev' Sonata No. 7 — the performance was so electrifying that it lifted the audience from their seats.

Simon Trpčeski opens the season's Great Pianists series at the Concertgebouw: "It's not only an honor, but also a great responsibility." He shares insight into the inspirations that are the basis of his life as a concert artist, context about the works he will perform in the recital, and his commitment to building cultural bridges through music.

In this interview, Simon Trpčeski discusses Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No.5 "Egyptian" which he will perform with the Prague Philharmonia and conductor Emmanuel Villaume on September 4, 2025. In this interview, he shares insight into the life of a busy concert artist, his approach to music, performing for the Czech audience, working with the next generation of artists, and his love for Macedonian folk music.

On September 4, 2025, the Prague Philharmonia Orchestra will open its season in the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum with Simon Trpčeski performing the Saint-Saëns' "Egyptian Concerto" No. 5. In this interview, Trpčeski discusses historical context of the work, his experience with the Czech audiences, his broad repertoire and interpretive approach, MAKEDONISSIMO and his cultural heritage, and his mission as an artist.

The concert series kicked off with a recital on July 13, after which for three evenings (from July 17 to 19) as a soloist with the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of the celebrated maestro Vasily Petrenko, Trpčeski performed Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1. The Brazilian audience greeted each performance with ovations, and a real curiosity for the Macedonian flags in the audience. Trpčeski responded to the warm reception with encore performances of Villa Lobos, Bužarovski, and excerpts from "Makedonissimo." The concerts were supported by the President of the Macedonian-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Luis del Valle.

The Budva audience welcomed the concert with enthusiasm and expressed great respect for the performers, which resulted in the performance of two encores, with standing ovations and strong emotions that rounded off an exceptional musical evening. Trpčeski said after the concert that a natural and spontaneous audience is always a gift for an artist. "This is not a classical project, it should be spontaneous. As you saw, I'm also in a role narrator and that is the point of the "MAKEDONISSIMO" project - to really embrace people through music," said Trpčeski and added that he was grateful to the Grad Teatar festival. "Thank you for inviting us, for giving us this honor to open the music program of this year's festival. We hope that our collaboration will continue."
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Renowned Macedonian pianist Simon Trpčeski will perform at Bratislava's Reduta on June 12 and 13, accompanied by the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra led by conductor Daniel Raiskin. In an interview with MusicPress.sk, Simon discusses his heritage and relationship with Macedonian music, his experiences from a recent concert in Chile, the importance of cultural diplomacy, and what attracted him to Slovak culture, in which he sees many influences and historical impact.

President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova attended a concert by pianist Simon Trpceski in Rome last night at the event called Macedonia in Honor of Saint Cyril. She said such events are a reminder of the power of cultural diplomacy. The president stated, "I am speechless. First of all, the atmosphere at Horti Salustiani is wonderful, not to mention Simon Trpčeski and his band. Of course, in addition to Tchaikovsky and Grieg, they also performed Makedonissimo. I think all the excellencies present from the embassies, the representatives of our diaspora, not only in Italy, but also from other countries, were speechless," said President Siljanovska Davkova.

The Thessaloniki State Orchestra appeared on Saturday, May 17, 2025 for the first time in its history in the city of Skopje. The concert featured the celebrated Macedonian pianist, Simon Trpčeski. It was a gathering that promoted friendship and cooperation between two cultures. The concert was enthusiastically received, as the audience in Skopje filled the Macedonian Philharmonic Hall, and at the end expressed their enthusiasm with a standing ovation. The President of the Macedonia, Gordana Silianovska, was in attendance and she warmly congratulated the performers after the concert, while also making a statement that the event "enthusiastically captivated the audience and demonstrated the enormous power of art as cultural diplomacy."