Virtuoso Pianist to Debut in Toronto

TORONTO-Having taken Europe by storm, 26-year-old Ukrainian pianist Serhiy Salov will make his Toronto debut in a solo concert at Glenn Gould Studio on March 1. Grand Prize winner of the 2004 Montreal International Music Competition, Salov will bring his evocative virtuoso form to his performance of works by Chopin, Schumann, Lysenko, Shamo and Liszt, demonstrating the breadth of his repertoire.

His distinctive interpretations, along with his physical stamina and exuberant ability to tackle technically difficult pieces, will be showcased in his Toronto performance of Schumann’s Fantasie in C major Op.17, Chopin’s Ballade in G Op.23, and the rarely-heard Hutsulian Watercolours by Shamo, among other highlights.

“There was pure magic in the air,” said Lucie Renaud at the Montreal International Music Competition when describing Salov’s playing. Said the Warrington-Worldwide online newspaper in April 2005, “It is hard to believe Salov is even playing the same instrument as the others...his magic touch in the dolce episodes leaves the listeners flabbergasted.”

“It is rare to discover such a musical gem,” said Roma Kwasnycia, Chair of the Serhiy Salov Committee. “Listeners are in for a musical treat.”

Born in Donetsk, Ukraine, in 1979, Salov made his artistic debut at the age of 11 with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto as the soloist. He obtained his BA from Musikhochschule Freiburg in Germany in 1999 and his MA from Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He remained in London for another two years as a Performance Fellow and received the Solo Recital Diploma “Premier Prix” in 2004.

Salov has won many first prizes, including the Epinal International Piano Competition (2001); Dudley Piano Competition (2001); Beethoven Society of Europe Piano Competition (2000); Concours Musical de France (1998); Grotrian-Steinweg Piano Competition (1995).

Salov speaks fluent English, French, German, Ukrainian and Russian. He currently resides in France.