This month, in honor of his upcoming birthday and CD release this month, we have selected Canadian classical pianist Jan Lisiecki (b. March 23, 1995).
Born in Calgary, Jan Lisiecki catapulted to international stardom with his performance of Chopin Piano Concerto 2 at the 2008 “Chopin and his Europe” festival in Warsaw, Poland at the tender age of 13. The Fryderyk Chopin Institute released this performance, alongside his subsequent 2009 performance of Chopin Concerto 1 at the same festival, as Lisiecki’s debut album. His refreshingly sensitive and mature interpretations garnered him the Diapason d’Or Découverte, as well as an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon at the age of 15. He is the youngest-ever recipient of the Gramophone Young Artist Award, and has also achieved the Leonard Bernstein Award, JUNO Award, and ECHO Klassik awards for his recordings. His ever-expanding and award-winning discography feature several Mozart concerti, Chopin’s rarely-performed works for piano and orchestra, both Mendelssohn concerti, and all five Beethoven concerti, and this month a new Beethoven Lieder recording with baritone Matthias Goerne. His career has been profiled in the documentary, “The Reluctant Prodigy.” In addition to his musical achievements, Lisiecki is active with charity work for the David Foster Foundation, Polish Humanitarian Action, Make-A-Wish Foundation. He is also a UNICEF Ambassador to Canada since 2012, and has modeled for l’Uomo Vogue Magazine.
