Pianist Vadym Kholodenko presents Valentine’s Day concert at BGSU


BOWLING GREEN, O—The Bowling Green State University Festival Series presents a Valentine’s Day performance by pianist Vadym Kholodenko, winner of the coveted gold medal at the 2013 Van Cliburn Competition. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. Feb. 14 in Kobacker Hall in Moore Musical Arts Center.

Kholodenko captured the attention of jury, audience, and critics alike for powerful, exhilarating performances that “showed the guts of a true superartist,” said the San Francisco Classical Voice. He continues to build a reputation for interpretations that are “impeccable, tasteful and vibrant, and also something more: imaginative,” according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The 2014-15 season marks his first year as the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s first artistic partner, a three-year collaboration that includes performing and recording the complete Prokofiev piano concertos, to be released by Harmonia Mundi USA. Other highlights of the season include orchestra debuts with seven orchestras in the U.S. and abroad; appearances at the Brevard Music Center and Stars of the White Night Festivals; and solo recitals in Boston, Louisville, Miami and Seattle, plus Rio de Janeiro and throughout Japan, Europe, and Russia. He will perform and record the Grieg “Concerto in A Minor “ and Saint-Saëns “Concerto No. 2” with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and Miguel Harth-Bedoya, which will join two critically acclaimed discs released since his Van Cliburn Competition win.

The recital program at BGSU includes “Chaconne in G Major, HWV 435” by George Frideric Handel, “Rondo in D Major, K.485” and “Rondo in A Minor, K. 511“ by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and “Sonate No. 10 in G Major, op. 14, no. 2” by Ludwig van Beethoven. After intermission, Kholodenko will play Claude Debussy’s “Children’s Corner” and “Images, Book 2,” concluding the performance with Mily Balakire “Islamey’s: Oriental Fantasy.”

Prior to Kholodenko’s performance, Alexa Woloshyn, BGSU music faculty, will give a free pre-concert talk at 7:15 p.m. in Bryan Recital Hall about the evening’s music.

In addition to his Festival Series concert, Kholodenko will present a master class at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 13 in Bryan Recital Hall, and will also serve as judge for the final round of the 2015 David D. Dubois Piano Competition beginning at 9 a.m. on Feb. 15.

For tickets for the performance, visit bgsu.edu/arts or call 1-419-372-8171.