Ivo Kahánek

Ivo Kahanek (born 1979) is a Czech pianist regarded as one of the most gifted Czech musicians of his generation. Renowned for his lyrical poeticism and outstanding virtuosity, he won the Prague Spring International Music Competition in 2004 and gained awards at other leading international piano competitions (Maria Canals Piano Competition in Barcelona, Vendome Prize in Vienna, Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition in Marienbad, Concertino Praga). After his successful debuts at Beethovenfest Bonn and Prague Spring Festival he was invited by the BBC to perform at the BBC Proms with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under its chief-conductor Jiří Bělohlávek. The concert was broadcast by the BBC Radio 3 and the BBC Television. This critically acclaimed Proms debut is now being offered by Deutsche Grammophon as a digital download. He also performs regularly with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and its chief-conductor Zdeněk Mácal and has made highly appreciated debuts with WDR Orchestra Cologne, Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra and many others.

In 2007 Kahánek released two CDs with music by Janáček, Martinů, Klein and Kabeláč and consequently signed a three-year contract with Supraphon Music. Besides he frequently collaborates with Czech Radio and Czech Television. Presently he is preparing for recital debuts in Rome and Tokyo and the performance of the 4th Piano Concerto „Incantation“ by Bohuslav Martinů in Prague with the Czech Philharmonic and Jiří Bělohlávek during 2008. In May he is starting a solo piano recording session for Supraphon Music, interpreting works by Janáček, Martinů and Kabeláč.

A graduate of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague under Ivan Klánský, Ivo Kahánek also studied for one semester on the Advanced Instrumental Studies course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London under Ronan O´Hora and participated in master classes with Karl-Heinz Kämmerling, Christian Zacharias, Alicia de Larocha, Imogen Cooper, Peter Frankl and many others

External links

* [http://www.ivokahanek.com Ivo Kahanek's official website]
* [http://www.pvdmedia.com/petrof/clanek.htm Ivo Kahanek and Martin Kasik in concert] (video)
* [http://www.divadlolouny.cz/foto_alba07/070116kahanek/ipage00004.htm Ivo Kahánek - photo gallery]
* [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Ivo+Kahanek:+%22I+tend+to+be+the+universal+type+of+pianist%22-a0127279461 Interview with Ivo Kahánek]