Denis Kozhukhin

“Technically flawless and musically imperious”: praise for Denis Kozhukhin with the Philharmonia

Denis Kozhukhin stepped in to replace pianist Boris Berezovsky in three concerts this week with the Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy. Kozhukhin’s performance at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, London, received a glowing review from Classical Source:

“Technically flawless and musically imperious … the outrageous first-movement cadenza was astonishing, no holds barred … this was something special. Throughout, Kozhukhin’s attention to detail and articulation was immaculate, and his daredevil playing was thrilling … Kozhukhin was a knockout.”
Classical Source, April 2016

Denis Kozhukhin steps in to replace Boris Berezovsky with the Philharmonia Orchestra

Denis Kozhukhin will step in this week to replace pianist Boris Berezovsky in three concerts with the Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy, with these concerts being the first time that Kozhukhin has performed with Maestro Ashkenazy.

Kozhukhin will perform Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor at De Montfort Hall, Leicester on 12 April, at The Anvil Theatre in Basingstoke on 13 April, and at London’s Royal Festival Hall on 14 April.

Debut recording for Pentatone – out now

Released today is Denis Kozhukhin’s debut recording with Dutch recording label Pentatone.

After signing an exclusive recording agreement with Pentatone in September 2015, Kozhukhin’s first recording with the label will feature Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1 in B-flat minor and Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor recorded with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin and Vassily Sinaisky at the Funkhaus Berlin.

Kozhukhin is currently Pentatone’s Artist of the Season; read more about it here. You can also watch an exclusive ‘Artist of the Season Diary’ here, filmed during the recording period, which gives an insight into the recording process as well as Kozhukhin’s thoughts on the works included on the disc.

The recording is now available for purchase and digital download here.

St Louis Symphony debut with Gilbert Varga

Denis Kozhukhin travels to Missouri this month, where he makes his debut with the Saint Louis Symphony in two concerts at Powell Hall on 5 and 6 March 2016. Kozhukhin joins the orchestra for Shostakovich Piano Concerto No.2 and performs for the first time under the baton of fellow Intermusica artist Gilbert Varga.

Kozhukhin returns to Europe the following week to make a second orchestral debut, this time with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Pietari Inkinen. Kozhukhin and the orchestra perform Prokofiev Piano Concerto No.3 at Dublin’s National Concert Hall on 11 March, in a concert that will be broadcast live on RTÉ Lyric FM.

Pentatone Artist of the Season January – June 2016

Having recently signed an exclusive contract with Dutch label Pentatone, Kozhukhin’s debut recording with them is due to be released in early April 2016. This recording will feature Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1 in B-flat minor and Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, which Kozhukhin recorded together with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, conducted by Vassily Sinaisky.

Learn more about the announcement of Denis Kozhukhin as Pentatone’s Artist of the Season here. The exclusive ‘Artist of the Season Diary’, filmed during the recording period for his upcoming disc can be viewed below. The video diary gives an insight both into the recording process and Kozhukhin’s thoughts on the pieces. Denis Kozhukhin’s debut recording with Pentatone can be pre-ordered here.

Debut recital at Vienna Konzerthaus

Denis Kozhukhin gives his debut recital at the Vienna Konzerthaus on 11 February 2016, performing a programme including Haydn Keyboard Sonata in D major, Liszt Harmonies poétiques et religieuses, Brahms 7 Fantasias, Franck Prélude, chorale et fugue and Prokofiev Piano Sonata No.7 in B-flat major.

The following week, Kozhukhin returns to the UK to perform alongside the Carducci Quartet in two recitals: in London at LSO St Luke’s on 18 February and at Reading Town Hall on 19 February, performing Shostakovich Piano Quintet in G minor. After these concerts, he performs at Wigmore Hall on 22 February in a BBC Lunchtime recital with a programme including Haydn Keyboard Sonata in D major, Brahms Theme and Variations in D minor, Liszt Harmonies poétiques et religieuses and Bartók Out of Doors. This recital will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra debut

Denis Kozhukhin makes his debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra this month in two concerts on 29 and 31 January 2015, performing Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.3 under the baton of Gianandrea Noseda. Kozhukhin recently performed the concerto with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, a performance of which the Augsburger Allgemeine commented that Kozhukhin “it’s as if the young piano star Denis Kozhukhin was specifically created to be a sensitive interpreter of Rachmaninov… [Kozhukhin] gave the astounding impression that the virtuoso piece had played itself.”

Earlier in the month, Kozhukhin appears in Boston on 20 January as part of the Celebrity Series recitals, performing a programme of Haydn Keyboard Sonata in D major, Brahms 7 Fantasias, Rachmaninov Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Haydn Keyboard Sonata in B minor, Franck Prélude, choral et fugue, and Prokofiev Piano Sonata No.7. He then performs with the New West Symphony Orchestra in three concerts on 22, 23 and 24 January, performing Ravel Piano Concerto with conductor Marcello Lehninger.