Musical artist
Jan Lisiecki (; born March 23, 1995) is a Canadian-born
classical pianist of Polish ancestry. Lisiecki performs over a hundred concerts annually
[1] and has worked closely with the world's leading orchestras and conductors,
[2] in a career at the top of the international concert scene spanning over a decade.
[3] He has been a recording artist for
Deutsche Grammophon since the age of fifteen.
[4]
[5]
Early life and education
Lisiecki was born in
Calgary ,
Alberta , Canada; began
piano lessons at the age of five; and made his
orchestral debut at the age of nine.
[6]
At thirteen, Lisiecki was invited to the 2008 edition of the "
Chopin and his Europe " festival in
Warsaw , Poland, to perform
Chopin 's
Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 21 with
Sinfonia Varsovia and
Howard Shelley . Instantly hailed as the sensation of the festival, he returned in 2009 to perform Chopin's
Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 11 in the same constellation.
[7]
He was brought to international attention the following year when the
Fryderyk Chopin Institute released the two performances, marking Lisiecki's
album debut.
[8] The recording was awarded the
Diapason d’Or Découverte
[9] and met with enthusiastic international reviews, with
BBC Music Magazine praising the "sensitively distilled" insights of his
Chopin interpretations, and "mature musicality" of his playing, and noting that "even in a crowded CD catalogue, this refreshingly unhyped debut release is one to celebrate".
[10] Following the
Chopin release,
Deutsche Grammophon signed an
exclusive contract with Lisiecki that same year, when he was 15 years old.
[11]
[12]
Lisiecki meeting
Elizabeth II ,
Queen of Canada , in Ottawa in 2010
As part of the
Canada Day celebrations in 2010, Lisiecki performed for
Queen Elizabeth II and an audience of 100,000 people on
Parliament Hill in
Ottawa ,
Ontario , Canada.
[13]
Lisiecki was
accelerated four grades upon the
school board's recommendation and graduated in January 2011 from
Western Canada High School in
Calgary ,
Alberta , Canada.
[14] He completed his undergraduate studies in Toronto at
The Glenn Gould School of
The Royal Conservatory of Music , where he was admitted on a full
scholarship .
[15]
Recordings and critical reception
Lisiecki's first recording for
Deutsche Grammophon , released in April 2012, features
Mozart's Piano Concertos
K 466, No. 20, in D minor and
K 467, No. 21, in C Major with the
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and
Christian Zacharias
[16]
[17] and was nominated for 2013
Juno Award in the category Classical Album of the Year.
[18] It was followed in spring 2013 by
Chopin's
Études Op. 10 and 25,
[19]
[20] which
Gramophone Magazine described as "played as pure music, given as naturally as breathing".
[21]
Lisiecki with
Claudio Abbado in 2013
In March 2013, Lisiecki substituted at short notice for
Martha Argerich , performing
Beethoven's
Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 58 in
Bologna with the
Orchestra Mozart under
Claudio Abbado .
[22] He concluded the season with a performance of
Schumann's
Piano Concerto Op. 54 at the
BBC Proms in
Royal Albert Hall with the
Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia under
Antonio Pappano .
[23]
The following year, Lisiecki made his debuts as soloist with world-class orchestras such as the
Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala in Milan ,
[24]
Tonhalle Orchester Zurich ,
[25]
NHK Symphony Orchestra in
Tokyo ,
[26] and the
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and performed three
Mozart concertos in a week with the
Philadelphia Orchestra .
[27] The same season saw him perform recital debuts at
Wigmore Hall ,
Rome's
Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia , and in
San Francisco .
[28]
In January 2016, Lisiecki played his debut in the Stern auditorium of
New York's famed
Carnegie Hall at the age of 20, with what the
New York Times called an "uncommonly sensitive performance".
[29] The same month,
Deutsche Grammophon released Lisiecki's recording of
Schumann's works for piano and orchestra with
Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and
Antonio Pappano .
[30] ClassicFM wrote, "he may be young but Jan Lisiecki plays Schumann like a legend".
[31] Shortly after, he made subscription series debuts with the
Cleveland Orchestra ,
[32]
Boston ,
[33]
Pittsburgh
[34] and
San Francisco Symphony ,
[35]
London Philharmonic Orchestra ,
[36]
Vienna Symphony
[37] and
Staatskapelle Dresden .
[38]
Lisiecki at the 2017
Echo Klassik awards ceremony in Germany
Chopin's rarely performed works for piano and orchestra, recorded with
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester and
Krzysztof Urbański and released in March 2017,
[39] was awarded both the
Echo Klassik
[40] and the
Juno Award ,
[41] respectively
Germany's and
Canada's most significant
recognitions in the music industry .
In August 2018, Lisiecki led the
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra from the piano in a performance of
Mendelssohn's
Piano Concertos No. 1, Op. 25 and
No. 2, Op. 40 at the
Teatr Wielki in
Warsaw , ten years after his first performance and recording at the "
Chopin and his Europe " festival.
[42] The live recording was released by
Deutsche Grammophon in February 2019
[43] and nominated for an OPUS Klassik,
[44] the successor award for the discontinued
Echo Klassik ,
[45] and
Orpheus and Lisiecki toured the concertos extensively throughout
Europe and
North America ,
[46] appearing in
Carnegie Hall and
Elbphilharmonie .
Lisiecki on stage in 2019
In 2018, Lisiecki presented a
recital program with works by
Chopin ,
Schumann ,
Ravel and
Rachmaninoff .
[47] Titled 'Night Music', it was hailed by reviewers as "intoxicating", "divine" and a "metaphysical sound experience".
[48]
His sixth album for
Deutsche Grammophon saw him leading the
Academy of St Martin in the Fields from the piano for all five
Beethoven concertos.
[49] The September 2019 release was recorded live in three concerts from
Konzerthaus Berlin over the course of five days. It was the first release within the label's celebration of the
Beethoven Year 2020, and an
audiovisual release followed in January 2020.
[50] In March 2020,
Deutsche Grammophon released a
Beethoven
Lieder recording with
baritone
Matthias Goerne .
[51]
The season also saw him perform both a new solo
recital programme as well as
Lieder recitals with
baritone
Matthias Goerne in
Paris ,
[52]
London ,
[53]
Hamburg ,
[54]
Munich
[55] and
New York 's
Lincoln Center ,
[56] and a series of
Beethoven concerto cycles with the
Chamber Orchestra of Europe .
[57]
[58]
Lisiecki has worked with the
New York Philharmonic ,
San Francisco Symphony ,
Chicago Symphony ,
Staatskapelle Dresden ,
Orchestre de Paris ,
Camerata Salzburg ,
Munich Philharmonic ,
BBC Symphony ,
London Symphony Orchestra ,
Toronto Symphony Orchestra ,
National Arts Centre Orchestra and
Zürich Chamber Orchestra , and conductors such as
Yannick Nézet-Séguin ,
Daniel Harding ,
Michael Tilson Thomas and
Manfred Honeck .
[59]
Media
Radio and
television networks worldwide frequently broadcast Lisiecki's performances,
[60]
[61]
[62]
[63] and he has been subject to extensive global media coverage,
[64]
[65]
[66]
[67] having been featured repeatedly on national television throughout
Europe and
North America .
[68]
[69]
In 2009, he was the subject of the 2009
CBC National News documentary by
Joe Schlesinger , The Reluctant Prodigy .
[70] In 2019, Lisiecki was featured as a protagonist in SchumannVR , a
virtual reality installation about the life of
Robert and
Clara Schumann , supported by the
Tonhalle Düsseldorf .
[71]
Activism and philanthropy
Lisiecki is involved in charity work, donating time and performances to such organizations as the David Foster Foundation, the
Polish Humanitarian Action and the
Make-A-Wish Foundation .
[72] He was appointed UNICEF Ambassador to Canada in 2012,
[73] having been a National Youth Representative since 2008.
[74]
Discography
Awards
2008 Grand Award, Canadian Music Competition
[89]
2008 Grand Award, Canadian Music Festival (youngest in history)
[90]
2009 Grand Prize,
OSM Standard Life Competition (youngest in history)
[91]
2010
Diapason d'Or Découverte Award
[92]
2010 Gold Award,
Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry
[93]
2010 Révelation Radio-Canada Music
[94]
2011 Young Artist of
Public Francophone Radios
[95]
2012 UNICEF Ambassador to Canada
[96]
2013
Juno Nominee, Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) With Large Ensemble Accompaniment
[97]
2013
Gramophone Magazine , Editor's Choice (
Chopin :
Études )
[98]
2013
Gramophone Young Artist of the Year , Gramophone Magazine (youngest in history)
[99]
2013 Leonard Bernstein Award,
Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival
[100]
2013 Canadian Chopin Society, Artist Recognition Award
[101]
2014
Juno Nominee, Classical Album of the Year: Solo or Chamber Ensemble (
Chopin :
Études )
[102]
2017
Echo Klassik , Concerto Recording of the Year (19th Century) (
Chopin : Works for Piano and Orchestra )
[103]
2017
Gramophone Magazine , Critics' Choice (
Chopin : Works for Piano and Orchestra )
[104]
2017
Juno Nominee, Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment (
Schumann :
Piano Concerto and Concert Pieces Op. 92 & 134 )
[105]
2018
Juno Award , Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment (
Chopin : Works for Piano and Orchestra )
[106]
2019
Gramophone Magazine , Editor's Choice (Mendelssohn )
[107]
2019 Opus Klassik Nominee, Concerto Recording of the Year (Mendelssohn )
[108]
2020
Juno Nominee, Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment (Beethoven: Complete Piano Concertos )
[109]
2020
Diapason d'Or (Beethoven: Lieder · Songs )
[110]
2020 Opus Klassik Nominee, Instrumentalist of the Year, Concerto Recording of the Year, Audiovisual Music Production of the Year (Beethoven: Complete Piano Concertos and Beethoven: Lieder · Songs )
[111]
[112]
[113]
References
^
[1] Bachtrack magazine 2019 statistics
^
[2]
^
[3] Digital Journal, August 2010
^
[4] [
permanent dead link ]
Deutsche Grammophon announcement
^
"Deal puts pianist on path to classical stardom" . Archived from
the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2013 . ,
Calgary Herald , September 30, 2010
^
[5]
Ottawa Citizen , September 27, 2006
^
[6] Culture.pl, September 2, 2013
^
[7] Classical Music Sentinel, January 18, 2020
^
"CD reviews" . Archived from
the original on December 18, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2013 . , Jan Lisiecki website June 10, 2013
^
[8]
BBC Music Magazine review
^
[9] [
permanent dead link ]
Deutsche Grammophon announcement
^
"Deal puts pianist on path to classical stardom" . Archived from
the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2013 . ,
Calgary Herald , September 30, 2010
^
[10]
Star Phoenix March 4, 2016
^
[11]
Last.fm January 18, 2020
^
[12]
The Royal Conservatory of Music January 18, 2020
^
[13]
Deutsche Grammophon , June 10, 2013
^
[14] ,
New York Times , March 29, 2013
^
[15]
Calgary Herald , April 18, 2013
^
[16]
Deutsche Grammophon , June 10, 2013
^
[17] Musical Toronto, April 23, 2013
^
[18]
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^
[19] , Slipped Disc March 14, 2013
Archived May 14, 2013, at the
Wayback Machine
^
[20]
The Proms , July 2013
^
[21] OperaClick, January 2014
^
[22]
Tonhalle Orchester Zurich , Annual Report 2013/14
^
[23]
NHK Symphony Orchestra , October 2014
^
[24]
Philadelphia Orchestra , April 2014
^
[25] Seen and Heard International, September 2013
^
[26]
New York Times , January 15, 2016
^
[27]
Deutsche Grammophon catalogue
^
[28]
Musical America , January 2017
^
[29] Ideastream, April 2016
^
[30]
Boston Symphony Orchestra , April 2018
^
[31]
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra , April 2018
^
[32]
San Francisco Symphony , April 2018
^
[33]
Archived September 17, 2020, at the
Wayback Machine
London Philharmonic Orchestra , December 2016
^
[34]
Vienna Symphony , January 2017
^
[35]
Staatskapelle Dresden pdf programme, July 2018
^
[36]
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^
[37]
Echo Klassik press release, July 27, 2017
^
"Junos 2018: the complete list of winners" . CBC News , March 25, 2018
^
[38] [
permanent dead link ]
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra , August 2018
^
"MENDELSSOHN Lisiecki - 1 CD / Download - Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft" . www.deutschegrammophon.com . Retrieved February 3, 2019 .
^
[39] Opus Klassik social media, July 2019
^
[40]
Billboard , April 2018
^
[41] Dorn Music, April 2019
^
[42]
Archived August 8, 2020, at the
Wayback Machine Toronto Concert Reviews, March 2019
^
[43]
National Arts Centre , October 2019
^
"BEETHOVEN Piano Concertos / Lisiecki - 3 CDs / Download - Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft" . www.deutschegrammophon.com . Retrieved January 6, 2020 .
^
[44]
Deutsche Grammophon , October 2019
^
[45]
Deutsche Grammophon , March 2020
^
[46] [
permanent dead link ]
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées , January 2020
^
[47]
Wigmore Hall , January 2020
^
[48] [
permanent dead link ]
Laeiszhalle , January 2020
^
[49]
Archived September 17, 2020, at the
Wayback Machine MünchenMusik, January 2020
^
[50]
Lincoln Center , January 2020
^
[51]
Konzerthaus Dortmund , January 2020
^
[52] EasyTicket, January 2020
^
[53] Dorn Music, January 2020
^
[54]
BBC Radio 3 , October 2015
^
[55]
WRTI , March 2019
^
[56] [
permanent dead link ] MagentaMusik, July 2019
^
[57]
Medici.tv , January 2020
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[58]
Maclean's , April 12, 2013
^
[59] [
permanent dead link ]
Vogue Italia , October 2013
^
[60]
New York Times , June 2017
^
[61]
CityNews , March 2019
^
"Der Chopin von heute: Jan Lisiecki - ZDF heute journal - ZDFmediathek - ZDF Mediathek" . Archived from
the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013 .
Heute Journal , May 2013
^
[62]
CBC Radio , June 05, 2019
^
[63] The Reluctant Prodigy ,
CBC Television , September 09, 2009
^
[64] KlassikAkzente Magazine, October 24, 2019
^
[65]
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^
[66] [
permanent dead link ]
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^
[67]
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^
"Chart Search" .
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^
[68]
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^
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^
[69]
Deutsche Grammophon June 10, 2013
^
[70]
Deutsche Grammophon June 10, 2013
^
[71] Musical Toronto, April 23, 2013
^
[72] Whole Note Magazine, June 2, 2013
^
[73] ,
The Toronto Star April 22, 2013
^
[74]
Deutsche Grammophon catalogue
^
[75]
Deutsche Grammophon catalogue
^
"MENDELSSOHN Lisiecki - 1 CD / Download - Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft" . www.deutschegrammophon.com . Retrieved February 3, 2019 .
^
"BEETHOVEN Piano Concertos / Lisiecki - 3 CDs / Download - Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft" . www.deutschegrammophon.com . Retrieved January 6, 2020 .
^
[76]
Deutsche Grammophon , March 2020
^
"CHOPIN Complete Nocturnes" . www.deutschegrammophon.com . Retrieved March 3, 2023 .
^
[77]
Archived September 26, 2020, at the
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^
Culture.pl September 2, 2013
^
[78] ,
The Globe and Mail , January 13, 2010
^
"CD reviews" . Archived from
the original on December 18, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2013 . , Jan Lisiecki website June 10, 2013
^
"Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video" . Archived from
the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2012 . ,
Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry June 10, 2013
^
[79] Radio Canada website, January 18, 2020
^
[80]
Archived September 23, 2020, at the
Wayback Machine Radio France website, January 18, 2020
^
[81] UNICEF portfolio, January 18, 2020
^
[82] ,
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^
[83]
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[84]
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^
[85] Culture.pl, September 2, 2013
^
[86]
Archived April 16, 2014, at the
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[87]
Archived March 20, 2015, at the
Wayback Machine
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^
[88]
Echo Klassik press release, July 27, 2017
^
[89]
Gramophone Magazine December 2017
^
[90]
Juno Awards 2017
^
"Junos 2018: the complete list of winners" . CBC News , · March 25, 2018
^
[91]
Gramophone Magazine April 2019
^
[92] Opus Klassik social media, July 2019
^
[93]
Juno Awards 2020
^
[94] Presto Music, July 2020
^
[95]
Archived November 7, 2021, at the
Wayback Machine Opus Klassik website, July 2020
^
[96]
Archived November 5, 2021, at the
Wayback Machine Opus Klassik website, July 2020
^
[97]
Archived November 7, 2021, at the
Wayback Machine Opus Klassik website, July 2020
External links
International National Artists Other