Pianist Ivo Varbanov has recorded again an interesting programme for Gega New with works by Brahms. In his previous releases for the label, he presented Mussorgsky, Ildebrando Pizzetti, together with the cellist Seeli Toivio (GD 275), and 20th century music, which he recorded with the Voland Quartet (GD 310).
Ivo Varbanov was born in Bulgaria, received his musical education in Italy and furthered his studies in the UK. His teachers were: Ylonka Deckers (1988 to 1993), Sulamita Aranowsky and Frank Wibaut. He currently studies under Dennis Lee. He has participated in the master classes of Lev Naumov, Alexander Lonquich, Barry Douglas, Jan-Bernard Pommier and Peter Katin. Together with cellist Seeli Toivio, he received the first and special prizes at the 25th Finale Ligure International Chamber Music Competition, Italy 1998. He has performed regularly in solo recitals and chamber concerts in Bulgaria, Italy, the UK, France, Spain, Ireland, Germany, Holland, Poland, Russia, and the United States. He has appeared at prestigious concert halls and taken part in the Hoffman and Paderewski music festivals, Sofia Music Weeks, Apollonia Arts Festival, Piemonte In Musica.
 
Recorded in Bulgaria Concert Hall, February 2006