Russian concert pianist Polina Osetinskaya’s recital at National Theatre was even better than I imagined. Known for her “deep, rich tone, technical precision, and diverse repertoire” Osetinskaya’s talent and distinct style are impressive. She began the recital with soft, melodic works by Bach. As the concert progressed, she played complex compositions by Russian composers Mikhail Glinka and Sergei Rachmaninov. Her music is soul-soothing.
Background
Born in 1975, Polina Osetinskaya was “identified as a Soviet musical prodigy at the age of five”. She began “performing in concert halls at the age of six,” and made her “orchestral debut with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, playing Bach Concerto in D Minor”. Osetinskaya became a “nationally celebrated phenomenon at the age of eleven, when she played Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major at Moscow’s legendary Tchaikovsky Conservatory Hall”.
Osetinskaya’s career was encouraged by her strict father and manager, Oleg Osetinsky, a screenwriter and filmmaker. She wrote a bestselling memoir, Farewell, Sadness, published in 2008, which became a Soviet Union “literary blockbuster“.
“The current season takes Osetinskaya to Paris, Bordeaux, Brussels, Vienna, London, Barcelona, Stockholm, Helsinki, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Singapore, Turin, San Francisco, Berkley, Atlanta, St. Louis, and other major cities worldwide.”
Performances and Recordings
A highly respected musician, Osetinskaya’s performances are praised by music critics as well as colleagues. She has “performed at Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Musikverein and Concert Haus, Salzburg Festspiele, London Barbican Centre, Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, and in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Slovakia, Poland, USA, Russia, and Israel”.
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“Polina Osetinskaya is a terrific pianist. More importantly, she’s a magnificently endowed musician. Her performances always explore new facets of even the most familiar scores… She is a musical treasure!” Review by Lawrence Budmen
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“She’s appeared with Music Aeterna, Mariinsky Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, and others. Her partners include renowned conductors and music directors, including Teodor Currentzis, David Russell Davies, Vladimir Spivakov, Laurent Petitgirard, Andrey Boreyko, and Yan Pascal Tortelier.”
Osetinskaya has recorded several albums, including the music of composers Giya Kancheli, Valentin Silvestrov, and Arvo Párt. She released a number of recordings with the Quartz, Naxos, Sony Music, Bel Air, and Melodiya labels.
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“Polina belongs in the pantheon of greats. A Queen, a grand and real artist, a committed one, so true to herself and her convictions. Polina gave the most magical, masterful, sensitive, impassioned, pianistically sublime, honest, vulnerable, and selfless recital I have ever heard.” Review by Pianist Gabriela Montero
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Belgrade National Theatre Program
The program included works listed below by composers Johann Sebastian Bach, Mikhail Glinka, and Sergei Rachmaninov. To the delight of her audience, Osetinskaya graciously performed three fantastic encores.
Johann Sebastian Bach
- Christmas Oratorio “Weihnachtsoratorium,” BWV 248
- Choral Prelude “Jesus bleibet meine Freude,” BWV 147
- “Die Seele ruht in Jesu Händen,” Cantata No. 127 – Andante
- Choral Prelude “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme,” BWV 140
- Concerto in A minor, BWV 1065 (After Vivaldi)
- Chaconne D-minor from Violin Partita No.2 BWV 1004
Mikhail Glinka
- Separation, Nocturne in F Minor
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“Polina Osetinskaya is an excellent pianist. Her personality and amazing skill made her an audience favorite and showed her extreme virtuosity.” Review by Harry Rolnick
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Sergei Rachmaninov Preludes
- Op. 3 No. 2
Polina Osetinskaya’s impressive and inspiring piano recital joins my list of memorable quality performances enjoyed at Belgrade National Theatre – another amazing evening of exceptional classical music!