Algarve’s Amigos de Música association is presenting two concerts this month, featuring pianist Katya Apekisheva and violinist Pavel Fischer, at Os Agostos, near Santa Bárbara de Nexe, on November 11 and 13.
For the first concert, Katya and Pavel will play music by Mozart, Brahms, Smetana, Tchaikovsky and Grieg. The second concert will see compositions by Bach, Tchaikovsky, Schnittke, Janacek, Pavel Fischer, Kapustin and Kreisler.
Katya Apekisheva was born into a musical family in Moscow. She initially studied at the Gnessin Music School in Moscow for exceptionally gifted children. At the age of 12, she performed Mozart’s Concerto No.17. Katya was a prize winner in the Leeds International and Scottish Piano Competitions and was once the London Philharmonic “Soloist of the Year”.
She continued her studies at the Rubin Music Academy in Jerusalem where she won an American-Israel Foundation scholarship. Katya then moved to London to study at the Royal College of Music where she was the recipient of the President’s Rose Bowl, presented to her by HRH the Prince of Wales to whom she has been asked to perform on several subsequent occasions.
As a recording artist, Katya has performed with many orchestras including the English Chamber Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Katya is Co-Artistic Director of the London Piano Festival and is a Professor of Piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Pavel Fischer was born in Zlín in the Czech Republic. His father, Eduard Fischer, is a well-known composer and conductor. Pavel studied both at the Prague’s Conservatoire and at the Academy of Performing arts. In 1988, together with pianist Ivo Jančik, Pavel won the International Chamber Music Competition in Trapani, Italy.
Since 2007, Pavel has been gaining recognition as a composer. “Morava”, his first string quartet, was premiered at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 2008. In 2016, the premiere of his First Violin Concerto was held and, in 2018, his “Tales from Morava” were performed by the Pavel Haas String Quartet in Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie.
Both performances start at 7pm and take place in Monte Os Agostos, an impressive 18th century country estate located above Santa Bárbara de Nexe. Doors open at 6.15pm and refreshments will be available.
Entry donation is €30 per person for guests and non-members payable in advance by bank transfer (see website www.amigosdemusica.org). For concert bookings, email reservasconcertos@gmail.com
