Big break in Boulder brings young pianist back|In March 2004, the University of Colorado at Boulder’s Artist Series took a chance and presented a recital by a young, almost unknown Macedonian pianist named Simon Trpceski.
The gamble paid off. Not only was the concert a hit with the larger-than-expected audience, Trpceski’s career has been on a steady rise since, with major international debuts coming with regularity.
“I am quite happy, because nothing was rushed and nothing was done overnight,” the pianist said from Ottawa, Ontario, where he was performing earlier this month with the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
“That is the case with some other people, but I’m very happy this is happening with great balance in my life. That’s very important to me – enjoying the other beauties in life, not only music, music, music and concerts, concerts, concerts.”
Colorado audiences will have another chance to hear Trpceski this weekend when he makes his second appearance with the Colorado Symphony, serving as soloist for Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2.
The pianist also will perform July 26-27 at the Colorado Music Festival in Boulder, joining conductor Michael Christie and the event’s orchestra in Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C.
Trpceski, 27, first garnered recognition in the classical world in 2000, when he finished second at the London International Piano Competition. Afterward, IMG Artists, one of the field’s top talent agencies, quickly added him to its roster.
A year later came his second big career boost – a debut in London’s Wigmore Hall. That concert caught the attention of EMI Classics, a major international album label. EMI invited him to record his debut album, a mix of works by Russian composers.
Recent highlights include a Japanese tour and debuts last year with such top-level ensembles as Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the London Symphony. In September, he returns for his second appearance with the New York Philharmonic.
His third recording was released earlier this week. Devoted to the music of Frederic Chopin, it features the Piano
Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor and four scherzos. A sample of the release can be heard on emiclassics.co.uk.
“Here we are after, what, 5 1/2 years, and I’ve got some really nice dates, and the classical-music world knows about my name, and I’m quite glad,” Trpceski said. “Now, in the future, most of the things will depend on me.
“No one knows what will happen tomorrow, but I hope everything will be fine and I will improve more.”
The pianist said he does not feel intimidated as he steps out on the world’s most famous stages.
“To be honest, I do not get over-excited about playing with so many major orchestras and playing around in prestigious concert halls,” he said. “It is a great honor for me, of course, but it is a great joy at the same time, so I just try to enjoy all these wonderful, unique moments, because I really have a chance to play with wonderful orchestras, great musicians and conductors.
“This is something that motivates me, and so far, so good.”
Unlike many major pianists who make their residences in musical centers such as London or New York, Trpceski has chosen to remain in his birthplace of Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, a country that was once part of Yugoslavia. He teaches at the Faculty of Music of the University of St. Cyril and St. Methodius, where he graduated in 2002.
“I was born there, I was raised there, I studied there and now I continue to live there,” he said. “Home is where you feel well, and my family and friends are there. You have to get motivation and inspiration from everyday life.”
Fine arts critic Kyle MacMillan can be reached at 303-954-1675 or kmacmillan@denverpost.com.
Simon Trpceski, piano, Colorado Symphony
Classical music|Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets; 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday| $15-$67.50|303-623-7876 or coloradosymphony.org.
