Renowned pianist Konstantin Krasnitski presents a recital featuring works by Davor Bobić, one of the most celebrated Croatian composers of our time, and the great Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. Do not miss this extraordinary opportunity to hear an international performer—Krasnitski has appeared throughout Europe and China and regularly performs at prestigious European music festivals and on television and radio throughout Europe.
The recital will feature Bobić’s works The Starry Sky: a childrens' album for the piano and Five Carnival Etudes alongside Rachmaninoff’s Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42, Morceaux de fantaisie, Op.3, and Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 36 (Second version, 1931).
In addition, SPCM piano faculty Ivan Konev and violinist Natalia Moiseeva will play the world premiere of a chamber music commission by Bobić.
Konstantin Krasnitski
Born to a family of professional musicians in Minsk, Belarus, Krasnitski took his first piano lessons from his mother. At the age of five he entered the Special Music School at the Belarus State Conservatory under Eugeny Pukst. He continued his music education at the Belarus Conservatory under Vladimir Nehaenko. But the person who influenced him the most was Viktor Merzhanov, a legendary pianist and professor at Moscow and Warsaw Conservatories. Merzhanov mentored Krasnitski for seven years.
Krasnitski was the winner of the first prize and the audience award of the First International Piano Competition, Svetislav Stančić, in Zagreb, Croatia in 1999, organized by the European Association of Piano Teachers. He was a fourth place winner of the Third International Rachmaninoff Competition in Moscow in 2002. That same year he also received the special prize of President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko.
Konstantin Krasnitski began his teaching career in 1999 and currently holds the position of Visiting Professor of Academy of Arts at Anyang Normal University in China and Professor of the Arts Academy affiliated with the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek, Croatia, where he heads the Piano Program.
Professor Krasnitski has performed in Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, USA, China, Tajikistan, Germany, Austria, Turkey, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He has collaborated with the Presidential Orchestra of Belarus, Symphony Orchestra of National Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus Republic, Belarus State Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra of Croatian National Radio and Television, Croatian Chamber Orchestra, Varazhdin Symphony Orchestra, Grodno Symphony Orchestra, and Symphony Orchestra of Young Belarus. He has worked with conductors such as Paul Deshpal, Vladimir Ziva, Berislav Shipush, Gennadij Provatorov, and Eugenie Ksaveriev. He has performed at Konzerthaus of Berlin, the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, Queen Elizabeth Hall of London, Volkstheatre of Wien, Vatroslav Lisinski of Zagreb, Hall of Republic (Minsk, Belarus), Steinway Chamber Hall in Copenhagen, and many others. Krasnitski frequently performs at prestigious European music festivals and appears on television and radio throughout Europe.
“Krasnitski reminds one of a young Rachmaninoff. His piano sound has clear and most beautiful tone – rich and soft, which he achieves by surprisingly simple means.” The Independent, “In search of new stars” (4/25/2002).
Davor Bobić
Davor Bobić is one of the most celebrated Croatian composers of our time. He has won numerous awards from the Croatian government, including the Ivo Vuljevic and Stjepan Sulek prizes. He has received both the Danica Hrvatska and Wattle Order medals, given to the most successful native Croatian artists.
Bobić has written more than 120 compositions, ranging from piano miniatures to large vocal-symphonic works. His music have been performed by leading Croatian and foreign artists, ensembles and orchestras, and is often played on some of the Europe’s most prestigious concert stages.
Among his most famous compositions are “Vukovar Requiem,” the oratorio “King Tomislav,” and the ballet “Veronika Desincka.” His oratorio “Isaac” was a highlight of 2009-2010 season in Europe and was featured in celebrating the city of Pecs, Hungary, when the European Commission named it a Cultural Capital of Europe in 2010.
A member of the Croatian Composers Society, Bobić won the award of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia in 2006 for the promotion of musical art. In the same year he was named Artistic Director of the Croatian national festival, Varaždin Baroque Evenings.
In addition to composing, Professor Bobić is Vice Dean for Arts & Science at the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, one of the largest universities in Croatia, with partner universities all over Europe.
Professor Bobić’s music has been recorded by numerous local and international artists and is available on YouTube as well as at his personal website.