Anton Dikov (1938-2004) is one of the most remarkable pianists of our time, who has been recognised both by the audience and the critics as a part of the world music elite. The legendary pianist Emil Gilels noted about him: “Anton Dikov’s art does honour to his country, and his performances stand out for their wonderful preparation, freshness, and nobleness of style.”Anton Dikov graduated from the Prof. Pancho Vladigerov State Academy of Music in Sofia under Prof. Lyuba Encheva and furthered his studies in France under Nadia Boulanger, Artur Rubinstein and Robert Casadesus. He enjoyed an active international artistic career since 1954 and toured extensively in nearly all European countries, the USA, Latin America, Japan, Korea. He performed with internationally renowned orchestras (Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Paris, Brussels, Prague, etc.). Mr. Dikov was holder of awards of big international piano competitions. A recognition of his art is his participation in the juries of the following international competitions: "Chopin" (Warsaw, 1975, 1990), "Liszt-Bartok" (Budapest, 1976, 1981), Bolzano (1977), "Margueritte Long" (Paris, 1979), "Beethoven" (Vienna, 1985), "Van Cliburn" (Fort Worth, 1985), "Tchaikovsky" (Moscow, 1990), the Bavarian Radio (Munich, 1992), etc. He was a long-standing president of the jury of the International Competition “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” (Bulgaria).
His teaching career was also significant. Since 1988 he was Professor at the Prof. Pancho Vladigerov State Academy of Music. He directed numerous master classes throughout Europe (1996-2002, in Flaine, France annually), in Japan (1983, 1989), in the Republic of Korea (1990-2003, in Seoul annually).
His repertoire comprised works from the Baroque period up to contemporary works, as well as a number of premieres of Bulgarian piano music. His extensive recording career includes 15 LPs, an integral edition of Bartok's (released by "Harmonia Mindi"), an integral CD-edition of Beethoven's concertos, a CD-edition of the impressive Concerto for Piano by Dimitar Nenov (Gega New, GD 258), etc.
The CD presents his exceptional interpretations of the music of the three eminent composers who were regularly present in his repertoire.
BEETHOVEN · BACH · BRAHMS· PIANO WORKS
Track Listing
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
[1] 32 variations on an Original Theme 11’27’’
JOHANNES BRAHMS
[2] Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, opus 24 27’40’’
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH – FERRUCCIO BUSONI
Chorale Preludes
[3] Komm, Gott, Schöpfer, heiliger Geist! BWV 667 2’10’’
[4] Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme! BWV 645 3’46’’
[5] Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland! BWV 659 5’46’’
[6] Nun freut euch, lieben Christen! BWV 734 2’31’’
[7] Ich ruf'zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ! BWV 639 3’27’’
Total: 56’40’’
Participating
ANTON DIKOV, piano