Denis Kozhukhin

Kozhukhin completes Prokofiev Cycle with BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

April 02, 2012

This month, Denis Kozhukhin will complete his hugely successful cycle of Prokofiev Concerti with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. On 5 April, Kozhukhin will perform Prokofiev Concerto No.5 at Glasgow City Halls, under the baton of Ludovic Morlot, bringing this “unmissable” cycle to a close.

Later this month, Kozhukhin will travel to Paris to give two recitals at the Auditorium du Louvre. On 25 April, Kozhukhin will give a solo recital with a programme comprising Liszt’s Twelve Transcendental Etudes. The following day, Kozhukhin will be joined by cellist Jakob Koranyi for a programme which will include works by Brahms, Debussy, Bloch and Dutilleux.

In the Press

“It has been a triumphal innings for Denis Kozhukhin in Glasgow, where over the last few months he has played all of Prokofiev’s piano concertos with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. The first marked the 26-year-old’s UK professional debut; at this final concert, the sold-out City Halls cheered him with the fondness they would a local lad.

He saved the mighty fifth concerto until last, tackling it with the same blithe bravura as he had the other four. Even having to learn three of the concertos from scratch did not phase Kozhukhin, who always seems to be enjoying himself. His cheerful assurance never comes across as hubris, though: he is attentive and gracious with the orchestra, and technically breezy, fingers buoyant on the keys no matter how dense Prokofiev’s writing. His sound is percussive but not harsh, forceful but never overwhelming, cheeky but not mean or sarcastic. He breathed gentle space into the Larghetto and easy swing into the Moderato’s opening offbeats. This was a young man’s Prokofiev, sincere and quirky and inquisitive.”
The Guardian, April 2012