Class Concerto
Encore Concerts is bringing a world class pianist from a world class international piano competition to the far north.
Israeli concert pianist Ran Dank will perform in Cairns, Mossman, Yungaburra and Cooktown next week.
For the first time since his association in 2000 with the Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia, he was able to attend the recent final virtuoso concerto events on August 1 and 2 and the presentation night at the Sydney Opera House.
There were six piano concertos performed with orchestra by formidable pianists across the two days.
As generally agreed by audiences, the 2008 competition reached one of the highest standards in its history.
For instance, one of the competitors who last year was chosen to perform a Rachmaninov concerto under the great conductor/pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy did not reach the third round.
Ran Dank performed Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No.3 and a 20-minute recital at the presentation and going on those performances, local classical music lovers are privileged, indeed.
Born in Israel in 1982, Ran is a graduate of the Tel Aviv Music Academy and the Juilliard School in New York.
Rank has won virtually every major prize available for a young musician in his country.
International awards include First Prize 2006 Gina Bachauer Competition at Juilliard, First Prize 2003 Lions International Piano Competition in Belgium and many more.
Ran has given recitals in the US, Poland, France, England, Germany, Finland and Russia and performed at the Chopin Festival in Warsaw and the Israel Festival.
Pianists who reach the final stages of the Sydney International Piano Competition are accomplished pianists and the final six are in a select few.
Ran Dank will select an appropriate program for each of his recitals in our area from his vast repertoire.
Ran Dank performs at Mossman’s St David’s Church next Tuesday at 7pm, Cairns St John’s Church on Wednesday at 7pm, Cooktown Nature’s Powerhouse on Thursday, August 21 at 6pm and Yungaburra Village Chapel at 7pm on Friday, August 22.
Ran Dank performs gigs in Cairns, Mossman, Cooktown and Yungaburra from next Tuesday to Friday. For information and bookings, call 4017 1177.
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Ran Dank performs gigs in Cairns, Mossman, Cooktown and Yungaburra from next Tuesday to Friday.
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