Russian Pianist Wows Vancouver Crowd

The stage was set for Kissin to perform at the Chan Centre

Tonight the crowd at The Chan Centre for Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia were treated to not one, not two, but three encores after an exceptional performance by Russian-Jewish pianist Evgeny Kissin.

This is not his first time performing in Vancouver. Apparently his first concert here was at the Orpheum and it was sold out. 

I wasn't familiar with Kissin, 53, but a quick online search revealed the Muscovite was recognised as a child prodigy at the age of six and made his professional debut at the age of 10. 

He made his overseas debut in 1985 in Eastern Europe, and performed in Japan a year later.

Kissin soaking in the adoration

Kissin is also a composer and enjoys reciting poetry, both Russian and Yiddish poems.

When the war in Ukraine broke out in 2022, he and other Russian artists signed a letter against the invasion and even composed a piano trio in response to the invasion that Kissin premiered in Amsterdam in October 2022. 

Needless to say, two years later the Russian government declared Kissin a foreign agent. 

He lives in Prague with his wife. During the concert this evening, the crowd was rapt watching Kissin play the piano which was hardly shiny and new -- he specifically chose to play a piano from the music department at UBC. It has seen better days, the black lacquer rubbed off in many areas revealing its wear and tear.

But Kissin gave the instrument a lot of love -- he wasn't interested in sleek-looking pianos and theatrics, just pure joy in performing. And the audience loved him back, jumping to their feet and clapping practically non stop. Perhaps that's why he was easily swayed into giving the crowd three encores!

Every time he bowed, he made a point of looking up at the audience, soaking in the admiration. 

Performing could be his form of resistance and we should appreciate his courage too.

Partita No. 2 in C minor BWV 826 by Johann Sebastian Bach 

Sinfonia

Allemande

Courante

Sarabande

Rondeau

Capriccio

Nocturne in C# minor Op. 27 No. 1 by Frederic Chopin

Nocturne in A-flat major Op. 32 No. 2 by Frederic Chopin

Scherzo No. 4 in E major Op. 54 by Frederic Chopin

Piano Sonata No. 2 in B minor Op. 61 by Dmitri Shostakovich

Allegretto

Largo

Moderato

Adagio

Preludes and Fugues Op. 87 by Dmitri Shostakovich

No. 15 in D-flat major

Preludes and Fugues Op. 87 by Dmitri Shostakovich

No. 24 in D minor