MP3 3 Sonatas - CLASSICAL: Sonata

"Sonata form is alive and well," quips pianist Ivan IliÄ. Ivan juxtaposes masterpieces by Beethoven and Haydn with a new work by the young American composer John L King. King's Sonata was recently hailed as "darkly resonant" by the Inverness Courier.

7 MP3 Songs
CLASSICAL: Sonata, CLASSICAL: Piano solo



Details:
"The concert demonstrated artistic potential of the highest order...the harmonic richness of eight Debussy preludes from the second livre was palpable, and IliÄ brought out the subtle shades of colour with a poetâs ear. Ondine was particularly compelling, the elusive spirit of the water nymph captured exquisitely. Following the intermission, IliÄ gave one of Chopinâs most satisfying works, the Polonaise-Fantasy. He brought out Chopinâs complex lineage of Bach and Schubert, and the playing was restrained and elegant throughout, the silences speaking volumes."
- John Morgan Western Mail (Wales) September 25th 2007

"Once in a while you experience something quite extraordinary at a concert, and this was one of those occasions. Ivan IliÄ is an extremely talented American pianist with a wonderful technique, a relaxed style and an easy manner with his audience...IliÄ has the ability to get under the skin of his music...he gave a dazzling performance of music by Händel, Debussy, Chopin and Liszt. Nothing interrupted the glorious flow of music and the depth of feeling in every note, making this a very special concert."
- Malcolm Rees South Wales Evening Post (Wales) September 22nd 2007

"This evening was an exceptional occasion...because it allowed us to listen to two virtuosos, Ivan IliÄ and Noël Lee. Each has his own sensibility; their musical color (subtely shaded) and their joint talent served Debussy's Prélude to the Afternoon of a Faun tremendously, for a magnificent four-hand performance. The first half, played solo by Ivan IliÄ, showed the entire pallet of this talented young artist, who mixed the works of Lucien Durosoir with those of Brahms to great effect."
- Jean-François Lepetit Lexnews (Paris) July 5th 2007

"...an astounding dynamic range...supremely technically gifted. From the elegaic Feuilles mortes to the sparkling conclusion of Feux d'artifice he held me spellbound...IliÄ gave a triumphant performance....the treat of a lifetime."
- John Jones Coleraine Chronicle (Northern Ireland) June 20th 2007

"Flying fingers at pianistâs concert...a great chance to hear such a brave choice of live music from a very accomplished pianist...refreshing and innovative."
- Michael Holohan Drogheda Independent (Ireland) April 4th 2007

"...remarkable...a pianist of high stylistic assurance...[he] impressed [with] the integrity, vividness and rhythmic control of his playing, notably in La Puerta del Vino and the final, pyrotechnic Feux dâArtifice. Itâs such a joy to come upon a pianist with an abundant armoury but who refuses to sacrifice intelligence to prodigal display."
- Nigel Jarrett South Wales Argus (Wales) March 30th 2007

"Ivan IliÄ wowed the audience with his solo recital...he proved himself to be a pianist of some style and many convictions...he will hopefully return here with his tasty recital programmes again and again."
- Andrea Rea Belfast Newsletter (Northern Ireland) March 27th 2007

"...a totally absorbing peformance...an exceptional artist...acute concentration was a hallmark of his playing...the complexities of the Brahms and Liszt were thoroughly mastered, and the latter exploded to end the first half...IliÄ performed all the pieces with an enormous depth of understanding and skill."
- Anne George County Echo (Wales) March 9th 2007

"Clearly something of a maverick, Ivan gave his own slant to works by Händel and Liszt...the pieces were full of light and shade, a perfect balance...his recital was full of emotion, rich textures, and the confidence that only comes from a master at work."
- Ronnie Kerswell Carmarthen Journal (Wales) March 8th 2007

"The final, fugal section of the work gave a taste of what we could expect in his playing throughout the evening...perfect clarity and a ringing brilliance...Ivan seemed perfectly at home with the fiendish work [Liszt's Variations]...conveying both drama and tenderness and setting pulses racing with an electrifying performance...Ivan's technique was ideally suited [to the Debussy Préludes]...the rippling flourishes were dazzling, especially in the climactic Fireworks."
- Ellie Hoare Western Mail (Wales) February 16th 2007

"...rich colours and sheer depth and luxuriance of sound...crisply played and cleanly articulated...Liszt took the full Romantic sledgehammer to Bach's elegant theme, calling for a full Lisztian technique. The pianist removed his jacket in recognition of the task ahead, and emerged with great credit from the challenge."
- Kenny Mathieson, Inverness Courier (Scotland) October 27th 2006

"Americans may not always be welcome in Paris, but this one is. The young pianist's interpretations of Debussy and his sort show a comfort with the high romance that's a French favorite. IliÄ's smooth dynamic range also fits well in his more contemporary recordings."
- Editor's Pick, Music.Download.com (USA) August 2006

"Throughout Händelâs Suite in F Major [Ivan IliÄ] showed a stylistic knack for bringing out the polyphonic lines and respecting the slow tempi...he navigated the Adagio from Mozartâs Sonata in E-flat Major completely differently, highlighting the supernatural, subtle tenderness with tasteful doses of pedaling and wonderfully beautiful singing melodic lines."
- Naša Borba, Belgrade (Serbia) June 9th 2006