Pianist Yefim Bronfman Will Come to Prague

Legendary American pianist Yefim Bronfman accepted the invitation of conductor Radek Baborák to the Rudolfinum in Prague where he appears to the Czech audience in accordance with the second concert of the Piano series of orchestra under the name of Czech Sinfonietta at Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 8.00 pm. The exclusive concert will be held under the auspices of the U.S. Embassy in Prague.

The cooperation between two worldwide known artists – Radek Baborák as a solo horn player and concert pianist Yefim Bronfman – is not new, but unique encounter of Baborák as a conductor and Bronfman as a solo concert pianist will happen for the first time ever.

“I don´t abandon the French horn yet. I think it’s possible to combine it very well – role of soloist and conductor. By that I retired from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and Czech Philharmonic Orchestra after almost thirteen years, there has opened some new space. It was also my dream and goal to pursue to conducting” says Baborák who based a new orchestra after his termination of cooperation with the Berliner Philharmonic Orchestra and where he appears an as artistic leader and conductor. “I must say that the extraordinary enthusiasm of players and members of Czech Sinfonietta provides project with the necessary energy without which any a such thing could occur.”

Czech Sinfonietta debuted on the Prague Spring International Music Festival as an extension of the original Baborak Ensemble. The enthusiastic acceptance led Radek Baborak and Jana Winter to the founding of the orchestra under the name the Czech Sinfonietta. The Czech Sinfonietta is at the beginning of its artistic career but its work activities for the following period were immediately filled with concerts and recording activities in Europe and Japan. The orchestra cooperates with world well known soloist and puts emphasis on the quality, unmistakable sound of transparent and rigorous interpretation fully respecting the legacy of composers and the pleasure of play.

Yefim Bronfman will appear in artistic cooperation with Czech Sinfonietta with Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15 by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Famous Fima how Bronfman is nicknamed, is undoubtedly one of the world’s most sought-after soloists. In 1989 he obtained U.S. citizenship, but his home town is oriental in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan. As in many cases of Uzbek families’ career of his father’s was signed by World War II. He became a German prisoner of war, however he managed to escape from prison. In Moscow he was arrested as a spy and tortured in Russian prisons and eight months after he was released. After the war his father has returned to the original family. Re- married and small Fima was born. His life mentor and teacher was Leon Fleischer, “Fima has extraordinary insight into each style, his willingness to use your head as well as heart and he can give the esteem appearance at the same time.”

In 1973 he moved with his family to Israel. In the United States he studied at prestigious schools – JuilliardSchool, Marlboro and the Curtis Institute. He was in a winner of the prestigious Grammy Award a few times in the past. He leads masterclasses in USA and plays concerts worldwide. Yefim Bronfman collaborates regularly with famous conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Christoph von Dohnányi, Charles Dutoit, Christoph Eschenbach, Valery Gergiev, Mariss Jansons, Lorin Maazel, Kurt Masur, Zubin Mehta, and more. The emphasis on an interesting interpretation and exceptional talent are enthusiastically accepted not only by critics but also by audiences around the world. The expanding list of his recordings proves that the Prague audience gets a gift of a high quality and an exceptional concert.