Date/Time
Date(s) - 17/Nov/2018
Genre - Piano recitals
Marouan Benabdallah, piano
Supported by The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco, New Delhi
In a programme of Khachaturian: Adagio from Spartacus; Liszt: Sposalizio, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2; Debussy: Two Arabesques; Salvador Arnita (Palestine): Introduction and Oriental Dance; Dia Succari (Syria): Danse de Leila; Malik Aslanian (Iran): Parvaneh (Butterfly); Zad Moultaka (Lebanon): Mouwashah; Fazil Say (Turkey): Black Earth
Acclaimed pianist Marouan Benabdallah is indisputably the leading representative of his native Morocco on the international concert stage, having recently performed debut recitals at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Aspen Music Festival, Teatro Colon with the Buenos Aires Philharmonic Orchestra, the Castleton Festival Orchestra under the baton of Lorin Maazel.
With a musical heritage deeply rooted in the Hungarian tradition, Mr. Benabdallah received his formal training at the Bela Bartok Conservatory and the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, and in 2008, was presented with the Medal of the Hungarian Parliament for his achievement in music – an honour he shares with such artists as Placido Domingo, José Cura and others.
Notably, in 2011 Marouan Benabdallah gave his debut at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall, prompting the New York Times to praise his “resourceful pianism, lyrical instincts and thoughtfulness.” The attending Anthony Tommasini went on to write: “[Marouan Benabdallah] played with rich colorings and flair, and brought tenderness to the lyrical musings and vigor to the bursts of chords and dizzying passagework. How he managed to memorize music that seems such a succession of arbitrary ideas is beyond me.” Shortly after, Benabdallah took the stage at the Kennedy Center for his debut at the famed hall as part of the Hayes Series, presented by the Washington Performing Arts Society. Reporting on the performance, the Washington Post commended the young pianist for his “keyboard agility, even touch and ability to highlight a single voice in the midst of a complicated texture,” as well as his “rhythmic energy and a compelling sense of momentum.” Although still on the onset of his career, Marouan Benabdallah has been acclaimed for his “cultivated sense of architecture and harmonic implication” (Cleveland Plain Dealer), “stunning interpretation [Liszt]” (Le Journal Saône-et-Loire), “sheer ease and mastery of the piano” (Metrolife), “skillful control” (Daily Times) and a “stunning virtuosity…devoid of smoke and mirrors” (The Nice -Matin). However, his acclaim is not limited to the press. He has been described by legendary pianist Ferenc Rados, who served as a mentor to the young artist, as a “remarkable musician”, while famed pianist Daniel Barenboim commended his “spontaneity” and “natural playing.” With an ever-growing reputation, Mr. Benabdallah has been presented before such luminaries as Zubin Mehta, Ivan Fischer and Antonio Pappano, has been invited to perform for former First Lady Laura Bush, and is enjoying an exponentially growing schedule.
Possessing a deep musical interest that exceeds the confines of his instrument, Mr. Benabdallah also trained as a conductor during his studies at the Bela Bartok Conservatory, where he was a student of Gabor Eckhardt. In 2007, he received his diploma from the Franz Liszt Academy under the guidance of Sandor Falvai and Kalman Drafi after a triumphant performance of Rachmaninoff’s Third piano concerto.
Marouan Benabdallah makes his home between Paris, Budapest, Rabat and Washington D.C. Marouan Benabdallah is a Yamaha Artist.
