- Rafał Blechacz
Rafał Blechacz (born
June 30 1985 Nakło n. Notecią,Poland ) is a Polish classicalpianist .On
October 21 2005 he was the sole recipient of all five first prizes at the 15thInternational Frederick Chopin Piano Competition inWarsaw . Specifically, he took First Prize and also thepolonaise ,mazurka ,sonata and concerto prizes. According to ABC News, one of the judges, Professor Piotr Paleczny, said that Blechacz "so outclassed the remaining finalists that no second prize could actually be awarded." Another judge, the distinguished Irish pianistJohn O'Conor , said "“He is one of the greatest artists I have had a chance to hear in my entire life," according to PBS. Blechacz was the first Pole to win the prize (given every five years) since 1975, whenKrystian Zimerman won.Blechacz completed his secondary education in the National
Arthur Rubinstein Music School inBydgoszcz , and now continues his studies in the Music Academy in Bydgoszcz under Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń.He is also a winner of the second prize in "Artur Rubinstein in memoriam" Piano Competition in Bydgoszcz (2002), 4th International Hamamatsu Piano Competition (2003) and a winner of the Grand Prix at the International Piano Competition in
Morocco in 2004.His first CD, a recording of Chopin's complete Preludes and his op. 62 Nocturnes, was released by Deutsche Grammophone in April, 2008.
Further reading
*cite news | last =| first =| coauthors =| title =Polish star scoops piano honour | work =| pages =| language =| publisher =BBC| date =
2005-10-22 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4367592.stm| accessdate =2007-09-29
*cite news | last =| first =| coauthors =| title =Polish Pianist Rafal Blechacz Wins Chopin International Piano Competition| work =| pages =| language =| publisher =Andante magazine| date =2005-10-23 | url =http://www.andante.com/article/article.cfm?id=26133| accessdate =2007-09-29
*cite news | last =| first =| coauthors =| title =Polish pianist wins prestigious Chopin competition| work =| pages =| language =| publisher =ABC News| date =2005-10-23 | url =http://www.abc.net.au/arts/news/artsnews_1488467.htm| accessdate =2007-09-29
*cite news | last =Sisario| first =B| coauthors =| title =A Chopin Winner From Poland| work =Arts, briefly| pages =| language =| publisher =New York Times| date =2005-10-24 | url =http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9500EFDC103FF937A15753C1A9639C8B63| accessdate =2007-09-29
*cite news | last =| first =| coauthors =| title =People: Rafal Blechacz, Steve Martin, Céline Dion| work =| pages =| language =| publisher =International Herald Tribune| date =2005-10-25 | url =http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/10/24/features/peeptue.php| accessdate =2007-09-29External links
* [http://www.blechacz.net Rafał Blechacz's website]
* [http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/RafalBlechacz/ Rafał Blechacz's fan club]
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6290156 Rafal Blechacz Performance on NPR]
* [http://rafalpianist.ifrance.com Fan Site for Rafal Blechacz]
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