Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1 / Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3 Behzod Abduraimov

• Sergey Prokofiev (1891–1953): Piano Concerto No.3 in C major, op.26
• 11. Andante - Allegro09:25
• 22. Tema con variazione09:09
• 33. Allegro ma non troppo09:56
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893): Dance Of The Four Swans
• 4Dance Of The Four Swans - Pas de quatre01:35
• Piano Concerto No.1 in B flat major, op.23
• 51. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso - Allegro con spirito20:37
• 62. Andantino semplice - Prestissimo - Tempo I06:37
• 73. Allegro con fuoco07:03
• Total Runtime01:04:22

Info for Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1 / Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3

Two of the most popular of all Russian piano concertos – Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 – by the exciting young Uzbekistani pianist Behzod Abduraimov. For today’s generation Abduraimov’s thunderously resplendent performance sets a new benchmark, accompanied with brilliance and elegance by the Slovakian conductor Juarj Valcuha – principal conductor of the RAI Turin orchestra.

“He can thunder, but he played Tchaikovsky's fast and furious passages not like a challenge but an almost serene joy. He is a pleasure to hear.” (Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times)

Behzod Abduraimov, piano
Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI
Juraj Valcuha, conductor

Behzod Abduraimov
Abduraimov’s performances combine an immense depth of musicality with phenomenal technique and breath-taking delicacy. He performs with renowned orchestras worldwide including Philharmonia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, San Francisco Symphony, The Cleveland Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Concertgebouworkest, Czech Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, NHK Symphony and Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin (RSB) with prestigious conductors such as, Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Gustavo Dudamel, Semyon Bychkov, Gianandrea Noseda, Juraj Valčuha, Vasily Petrenko and Constantinos Carydis.

2023/24 performances include Chicago Symphony, Mozarteumorchester Salzburg, Houston Symphony and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras, Oslo Philharmonic, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra including a tour of Spain and Belgian National Orchestra performing at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam. Behzod will also return to Israel Philharmonic and appear with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Conductor collaborations include Osmo Vänskä, Juraj Valčuha, Constantinos Carydis, Robin Ticciati, Manfred Honeck, Yoel Levi, Han-Na Chang, Hannu Lintu and Andris Poga.

In recital Behzod has appeared a number of times at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, Queen Elizabeth Hall in London and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, and has recently been presented by Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Toppan Hall, Tokyo, Teatro alla Scala and La Società dei Concerti di Milano. In 2023/24 Behzod will appear twice at Carnegie Hall – returning to the Stern Auditorium for solo recital, followed by a duo recital with Daniel Lozakovich at the Weill Auditorium. The duo will present recitals elsewhere in North America including Bing Hall, Stanford, and the Vancouver Recital series. Behzod will also perform in recital at the Seoul Arts Centre, Shanghai Concert Hall, Amare Hall, Hague and the Tuesday Evening Concert Series, Charlottesville. Regular festival appearances include Aspen, Verbier, Rheingau, La Roque Antheron, Lucerne and Ravello festivals.

Behzod’s second recital recording for Alpha Classics will be released in March 2024 featuring works by Ravel, Prokofiev and the Uzbek composer, Dilorom Saidaminova. 2021 saw the highly successful release of his first recital album for Alpha Classics based on a programme of Miniatures including Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. In 2020 recordings included Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with Lucerne Symphony Orchestra under James Gaffigan, recorded on Rachmaninov’s own piano from Villa Senar for Sony Classical and Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.3 with Concertgebouworkest, for the RCO live label. Both recordings were nominated for the 2020 Opus Klassik awards in multiple categories. A DVD of his BBC Proms debut in 2016 with Münchner Philharmoniker was released in 2018. His 2012 debut CD of Liszt, Saint-Saëns and Prokofiev for Decca won the Choc de Classica and Diapason Découverte and his first concerto disc for the label featured Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No.3 and Tchaikovsky’s Concerto No.1.

Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in 1990, Behzod began the piano aged five as a pupil of Tamara Popovich at Uspensky State Central Lyceum in Tashkent. In 2009, he won first prize at the London International Piano Competition with Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No.3. He studied with Stanislav Ioudenitch at the International Center for Music at Park University, Missouri, where he is Artist-in-Residence.

Booklet for Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1 / Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3