Grieg’s concerto, with the sensitive Macedonian pianist Simon Trpčeski at the keyboard, proved the crowd-pleaser it was intended to be, but Mr. Trpčeski’s interpretation eschewed light and bright for darker and more interesting hues. And though he can, and does, play dazzlingly fast, he just as often favors a slower pace, bringing a tantalizing melancholy to these familiar strains. Ms. Zhang obliged him, to everyone’s benefit.

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. 

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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."

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.