The Swiss French-language newspaper Le Temps published an article under the headline “Bekhzod Abduraimov, fiery fingers”, dedicated to the young Uzbek pianist, who conquered the European public.
“This rising star – is the opening of the International Competition in London in 2009, belongs to the young generation of virtuosos of East, who considered as the successors of Evgeny Kisin and Denis Matsuev, – the newspaper writes. – Born in 1990 in Tashkent in academic-musical family, from childhood he was surrounded by music. Bekhzod got his first lessons in playing a musical instrument young when he was five years-old, immediately showing his talent. His first teacher – his mother, who then sent him to a music school named after Uspenskiy in the capital in the hands of the legendary teacher Tamara Popovich”.
The article notes that Uzbek pianist honed his art in Kansas City, in a piano class of Stanislav Yudenich at the University Park. “This is very detailed and very sophisticated musician. S.Yudenich – disciple of the great Dmitriy Bashkirov. He took lessons from Karl Ulrich Schnabel, the son of Arthur Schnabel, from Rosalyn Turek and Leon Fleisher. He does not impose his views to the student and helps to find himself as a person in musical traditions and styles of Beethoven, Mozart or Rachmaninov”, – Bekhzod tells about his mentor.
At the international competition in London in 2009, our pianist performed the most complicated musical works – plays of Paganini, Variations by Brahms, Chopin, 6th sonata by Prokofiev, modern play of Thomas Adès. Impeccable and passionate performance of 18-year-old boy could not leave indifferent the jury which unanimously awarded him first place.
“Today Bekhzod gives 60-65 concerts a year. He divides his time between Kansas City, Tashkent and London. Despite the grueling pace of work, the young virtuoso to fly from one continent to another, and, as he says, when he feels fatigue he “reloads his batteries on the stage”, – the Le Temps says.
The newspaper noted that a pianist’s performances with renowned orchestras including the Leipzig Gewandhaus and the Munich Philharmonic are ahead.
“We have to think about what the great composers gave us their works as a treasure. We were lucky to keep these treasures – it is our mission”, – paper concludes, having quoted the words of pianist.