Published: Sept. 10, 2016
World-renowned pianist comes to Hartford
By NICHOLAS DETTMANN
ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043
Alina Kiryayeva’s speed and accuracy on the piano is like that of a
gourmet chef chopping vegetables in the middle of a dinner rush.
Fast and perfect, perfect to the point where audience members get lost and are amazed at what’s unfolding. Hartford, prepared to be amazed.
Kiryayeva, a world-renowned pianist from Ukraine, will perform
Sept. 24 at the Schauer Arts and Activities Center. It is one of 70
shows she will do this season.
“I had about 40 last year. It was great,” Kiryayeva said. “But, I still wanted more. I’m happy with what I have now.”
Kiryayeva, 36, has performed in several countries, including Russia,
Mexico, France, Germany, Austria, Italy and Japan. She’s also played in
collaboration at some of the most prestigious venues in the world,
including Kharkov State Philharmonic & State Opera Theatre
Orchestras, The Imperial Valley Symphony Orchestra, the New York
Symphonic Ensemble Orchestra, Carnegie Hall, the Morse Recital Hall and
the Concerto Takes Manhattan Series at Yamaha Hall.
In 2013, Kiryayeva released a solo piano album, “Sonatas,” which was
featured on the 150th broadcast of “Women in Music” on CKWR Radio in
Ontario, Canada.
A
review in the Imperial Valley Press in California states, “Kiryayeva’s
every phrase shone through with crystal clarity, the piano sang to the
audience under her delicate touch.” And a review in the Times Herald
Record in Newburg, New York, reads, “Kiryayeva displayed marvelous
concentration, control and genuine agility that won her a standing
ovation from the audience.”
Robin Klinger of Klinger Entertainment LLC in Great Neck, New York,
said in a review, “I have never heard a piano played like that.”
Her show is called “Moving Pictures,” because the audience will hear
pieces they’re going to be familiar with — scores from movies and
cartoons.
“Playing that’s always fun,” Kiryayeva said.
Growing up, it was hard for Kiryayeva to avoid music. Her mother,
father, grandmother and great-grandmother were all pianists. Her brother
played flute.
The non-musician in the family was her grandfather. He was a nuclear scientist.
“I remember it was fun,” Kiryayeva said. That was until she was 11 or 12 years old. Then it was terrifying.
“I was getting nervous on stage,” Kiryayeva said. “Before that it was
fine. I could do something other people couldn’t do. I wasn’t afraid of
anything.”
That changed
when she went on her first extended tour when she was 11 years old to
France. Outside of trips with her school in her native Ukraine,
Kiryayeva hadn’t traveled outside the country until then. When she did,
she did it without family, just classmates.
She stayed with a host family in France. She didn’t speak English or French.
“I was more worried about communication and not being able to say anything or do anything,” she said.
She added, “It was scary because I was alone. I’d never been alone before. I was out of comfort zone.”
It’s a different story when she pulls the bench up to a piano.
“While I was playing and it holds true to this day, while I’m playing, I’m in my comfort zone,” Kiryayeva said.
In the moments before sitting at the piano, she couldn’t help but
notice the audience — hundreds of people, a lot more than she was used
to. Plus, she couldn’t ignore the television cameras roaming on the
stage. She knew then and still does to this day that playing the piano
is her safe place. It’s how she communicates, admitting she’s not a
great speaker.
“I can communicate, express something and I can feel a
lot of emotion and I express that (on the piano),” Kiryayeva said.
“I’m not a good talker.”
Kiryayeva is one of few classical pianists
that completed both bachelor and master degrees at The Juilliard School
of Music on a full scholarship. She was also awarded the Fannie
Gottlieb-Harkavi Scholarship and Susan Rose Piano Scholarship. Her
awards include first-prize winner of Italy’s Senigallia International
Competition, and top prizes in the Grace Welsh International and the
California Young Artist International competitions. Kiryayeva has been
honored by Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk, with the State Award
for Achievements in Arts.
“When I got older and realized that I have a
choice, I could do whatever I wanted,” Kiryayeva said. “Expression,
this is the best medium I can express myself in. I miss it when I
don’t do it. And I’m good at it.”
