Since 1997 Gega New has released four albums of the pianist Vesselin Stanev with performances of Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Rahmaninoff, Ravel and Beethoven. The current fifth CD is dedicated to the 170th anniversary of the birth of Johannes Brahms. Vesselin Stanev is well-known to the audience in Bulgaria, Europe and Japan due to his many concerts given in Germany, Switzerland, France, Portugal, Austria, Russia, and his participation in the musical festivals Sofia Musical Weeks, Varna Summer, Apollonia, as well as his solo recitals with most of Bulgaria's symphony orchestras. As early as a student at the Varna School of Music, Vesselin Stanev received awards at prestigious international competitions in Italy, the Czech Republic, etc. He continued his education at the State Academy of Music, Sofia in the class of Professor Konstantin Ganev. After winning the award at the P. I. Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow, he became a student at the Moscow State Conservatory in the class of Professor Dmitry Bachkirov. At the same time he won three awards in the Marguerite Long competition in Paris. His international career as a performer began during his specialization with Alexis Weissenberg in Paris and has continued with great success up to now. He has performed with world-famous orchestras at famous concert halls. His performances have won him critical acclaim. The critics stress on his confident technique and ultimate virtuosity, his prominent musical individuality and at the same time - strong interpretation of all composers.
For every concert season Vesselin Stanev selects a programme to be presented to the audience, which is followed by a recording of this programme. For the year 2002 his major composers were Brahms and Chopin.
Recorded in Bulgaria Concert Hall, Sofia, January 2001 and January 2003
JOHANNES BRAHMS · SIX PIECES AND SEVEN FANTASIAS FOR PIANO
Track Listing
Six Pieces for Piano, op. 118
[1] Intermezzo 1'43''
[2] Intermezzo 5'25''
[3] Ballade 3'08''
[4] Intermezzo 2'47''
[5] Romance 3'47''
[6] Intermezzo 5'00''
Seven Fantasias for Piano, op. 116
[7] Capriccio 2'07''
[8] Intermezzo 3'25''
[9] Capriccio 2'35''
[10] Intermezzo 4'01''
[11] Intermezzo 3'39''
[12] Intermezzo 3'28''
[13] Capriccio 1'57''
[14] Variations on a Theme by Paganini, op. 35 20'11''
(Books I & II)
DDD 63'13''
Participating
VESSELIN STANEV, piano