Yamaha Pianos in conversation with Stephen Kovacevich

Filmed as part of Yamaha's International Piano series at Malvern Theatres, Stephen discusses Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart. He explains the special connection between performer and audience and the dangers of recording the 'perfect' take. He also talks about Yamaha's CFX piano.

Stephen Kovacevich is one of the most searching of musical interpreters, having won unsurpassed admiration for his playing of Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart and Schubert.  In addition to his long and distinguished career as a soloist he has also conducted for many years, winning warm praise for his work with orchestras throughout the world in repertoire from the 18th and 19th centuries. Stephen Kovacevich has appeared with many of the world’s finest orchestras and conductors including Colin Davis, Hans Graf, Bernard Haitink, Kurt Masur, Sir Simon Rattle and Georg Solti.

Born in Los Angeles, Stephen Kovacevich made his concert debut as a pianist at the age of 11.  When he was 18 he moved to England to study with Dame Myra Hess.  Since then his international reputation has been built both on his concert appearances, renowned for their thoughtfulness and re-creative intensity, and on the highly acclaimed recordings he has made throughout his career.

Recent concerto highlights include a triumphant return to Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic, Orchestre de chambre de Paris, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra with Vladimir Ashkenazy.

Last season saw Stephen perform to a sell-out audience for his recital as part of the International Piano Series at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, and this season he will perform recitals at the Seoul Arts Center, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Salle Pleyel, and Palau de la Musica Barcelona. Stephen also returns to Verbier for the festival in the summer of 2014.

www.icartists.co.uk/artists/stephen-kovacevich