Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/Nov/2019
Genre - Piano recitals
The First Maharookh Forbes Memorial Concert
Stephen Kovacevich, Steinway concert grand piano 70794
In a programme of Bach: Prelude and Fugue No. 4 in C sharp minor BWV 849; Sarabande and Gigue from Partita No. 4 BWV828; Beethoven: Piano Sonata Op. 109 and Schubert: Piano Sonata, D 960
This is the first in a series of concerts dedicated to the memory of late Maharookh Forbes, who tirelessly championed the cause of promoting Western Classical music in the city of Pune and served for many years as the President of The Poona Music Society. The legacy of Maharookh Forbes, and the generosity of the Forbes family, is largely responsible for making possible, the many concerts which we all enjoy at Mazda hall.
Stephen Kovacevich is one of the most searching interpreters, never afraid to take both technical and musical risks in order to achieve maximum expressive impact. Born in Los Angeles, Stephen Kovacevich laid the foundation for his career as concert pianist at the age of eleven. After moving to England to study with Dame Myra Hess, Stephen made his European debut at Wigmore Hall in 1961. Since then he has appeared with many of the world’s finest orchestras and conductors including Hans Graf, Bernard Haitink, Kurt Masur, Simon Rattle and Georg Solti. In addition, he has forged many longstanding professional relationships, most notably with Colin Davis with whom he made numerous outstanding recordings, including the legendary Bartók Piano Concerto No. 2 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Stephen Kovacevich has enjoyed an illustrious long-term relationship with recording companies Philips and EMI. To celebrate his 75th birthday, Decca has released a Limited Edition 25 CD Box Set of his entire recorded legacy for Philips. In 2008 Stephen Kovacevich recorded Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations exactly 40 years after his first recording of the work. This Onyx recording won him the 2009 Classic FM Gramophone Editor’s Choice Award and the ‘Top Choice’ by Gramophone Magazine in September 2015, to quote: “his seasoned yet fearless mastery reveals something new with each hearing”.
Steinway 70794 is The Poona Music Society’s 127 year old concert grand piano, which has been recently restored, partly in Mumbai by Furtados and partly in Hamburg at the Steinway factory. This restoration was largely undertaken following the advice of Mr. Kovacevich, so it is rather apt that he will inaugurate this newly restored treasure.
