Additional Information
On April 30 and May 2, the celebrated Russian pianist Yulianna Avdeeva will play Fryderyk Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra conducted by Simone Young. We reached her to talk about it with her.
PANM360: You are known to the international public for winning the Chopin Competition in 2010, can you tell us something more about your relationship with the Polish composer and with Concerto No. 1?
Yulianna Avdeeva: Concerto No. 1 is a very special piece, full of lyricism, and in some way also the one that closes the composer’s youthful compositional phase. I find, in general, that the works of the more mature Chopin are of greater depth than those of the younger Chopin: for this reason, I try to deal more often with the later works. In the case of the Concertos, however, the piano is really highlighted, and it is always a great pleasure for me to play both of them.
PANM360: On this occasion you will play with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, can you tell us how you feel about sharing the stage with this orchestra?
Yulianna Avdeeva: For me it is the third time in Montreal, after 2015, when I played Stravinsky with Kent Nagano, and 2025, when I played the complete Preludes and Fugue op. 87 at the Lanaudière Festival. I’m really excited to play again with an orchestra of excellent musicians and in a hall with amazing acoustics!
PANM360: You are active both as a soloist and with orchestra, do you think there are differences between these two ways of performing? Which ones?
Yulianna Avdeeva: In a recital, I am totally responsible for the outcome of my performance and on a physical level I have a lot of space to share the music with the audience in the room. These two aspects are at the same time a great advantage, but also a great responsibility. In a concert with orchestra, however, the responsibility is shared with all the musicians, and the physical space is much more restricted. All this happens, however, in the name of the spontaneity of making music together. These are two rather different experiences, which I love in equal measure.
PANM360: You have a leading career in the international classical music scene, what can you tell us about your path?
Yulianna Avdeeva: I don’t really like to think of my musical activity in terms of a career, because for me there is music, piano and repertoire and everything I do revolves around these aspects. Clearly, winning a prestigious competition like the Chopin has opened many prestigious doors for me, but I prefer to think in terms of artistic objectives and I consider myself privileged to carry out this activity which is also a responsibility.
PANM360: Can you tell us about your upcoming musical commitments?
Yulianna Avdeeva: Last year, as I said, I performed the complete Preludes and Fugue op. 87 by Shostakovich, this year I am dedicating myself to Bartók’s Concertos. Next year will be the time for the first volume of The Well-Tempered Clavier and the premiere of a contemporary piece written for me.
PANM360: We can define you without a shadow of a doubt as a very successful pianist, do you have any advice for emerging pianists?
Yulianna Avdeeva: The most important thing is the passion for music, as I always say to the young people I meet during masterclasses. Then, you have to find your artistic voice in a way that doesn’t copy any other performer and doesn’t put the emphasis on technique. I say this because the primary aspect of playing in public is to share emotions with others, so I encourage young people to follow their artistic instinct and their interpretative individuality!
Photo Credit: Maxim Abrossimow
