YAMAHA INTERNATIONAL PIANO SERIES CONTINUES AT MALVERN THEATRES WITH JEAN EFFLAM-BAVOUZET

The critically acclaimed Yamaha International Piano series continues at Malvern Theatres on Friday 11th March as one of the world's greatest concert artists, Jean Efflam-Bavouzet performs an inspired programme of works by Beethoven, Debussy, Wagner and Liszt.

Characterized by critics and audiences as mercurial, elegant, dynamic and poetic, French pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet's busy career includes recent performances with the Boston Symphony, the Berliner Sinfonie Orchester and The London Philharmonic. His recent CD releases include the complete keyboard works of Debussy, and the complete keyboard works of Ravel. Both of these CDs have been honoured with the "Choc" award from Le Monde de la Musique. And the Ravel issue was just named "Best recording of the month" in Stereo.

Honours from distinguished juries and musicians include the Young Concert Artists award and a personal invitation from the late Sir Georg Solti to perform the Bartok Third Piano Concerto with L'Orchestre de Paris.

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet regularly performs with leading international orchestras, among them the Gurzenich Orchestra of Cologne, the Bournemouth Symphony, Hallé Orchestra/Manchester, Weimar Staatskapelle, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Calgary Philharmonic, Utah Symphony, and Symphony National de Belgique. He has appeared with the finest ensembles of his native France and collaborated with conductors including George A. Albrecht, Yutaka Sado, Marek Janowski, Armin Jordan, Leonid Grin, Jorge Mester, Kobayashi Ken-Ichiro, Emmanuel Krivine, Andrew Litton, Kent Nagano, Michel Plasson, Youri Simonov, David Atherton, Pavel Kogan, and Mark Ermler.

He is also a frequent guest at European and American festivals including La Roque d'Anthéron, Théatre des Champs-Elysées Sunday Morning Series, La Folle journée/Nantes, Chopin Festival Paris, Piano aux Jacobins, Schleswig-Holstein, Ruhr Klavierfestival, Badenweiler Musiktage, Harrogate, Kalamazoo, American Spoleto, Mainly Mozart, Bard Festival, Yokohama, Sakharov, and Sarov.

Jean Efflam-Bavouzet will perform using Yamaha’s exciting new CFX concert grand piano that recently made an impressive New York debut at the United Nations, at a concert to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the ending of World War II and the establishment of the United Nations. Twenty years in the making, the CFX is an entirely new instrument in terms of its piano action and construction. It has received acclaim from artists the world over for its tonal excellence and power.

Yamaha’s Mike Ketley comments, “At Yamaha pianos we are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming Jean Efflam-Bavouzet to our partnership with Malvern Theatres. Yamaha pianos are now becoming an increasingly popular feature on the world’s concert platforms and we are proud that these recitals allow us to continue to present some of the world’s finest pianists in an idyllic setting whilst reinforcing the quality and musicality of our concert instruments.”

Malvern Theatres marketing director Fred Moroni said, “Malvern Theatres is once again grateful to Yamaha for its support, which has helped secure a distinguished line up of internationally renowned pianists. We sincerely hope this wonderful partnership with Yamaha will continue to bring the very best pianists here for many years to come.”

The series continues on Friday 1st April 2011 with Stephen Hough.

Ticket prices: £20.00, £16.50, £13.00
Starts: 7.30 pm

Recitals are now available for booking. For more information, full programme details and to purchase tickets online, please visit http://www.malvern-theatres.co.uk or call the box office on 01684 892277.

Jean Efflam-Bavouzet's programme is as follows:

• Beethoven: Sonata in C Minor Op.13 "Pathetique"
• Debussy: Clair de Lune and Images Book 2
• Wagner/Liszt: Prelude/Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde
• Liszt: Grosses Konzert Solo