Media Release 9 November 2015

Danish Violinist Nikolaj Znaider Makes National Concert Hall Debut in Nordic Themed Season

Nikolaj Znaider, violin
Robert Kulek, piano
International Concert Series 2015/2016
Wednesday 25th November 2015, 8pm

Danish virtuoso violinist Nikolaj Znaider will make his National Concert Hall debut alongside pianist Robert Kulek with a programme of works by Beethoven, Brahms, and Shostakovich on Wednesday November 25th at 8pm. This recital is part of the National Concert Hall’s Nordic themed International Concert Series 2015/2016.

Znaider and the acclaimed American pianist Robert Kulek open their recital with Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 12, No. 2. Two superb violin sonatas by Brahms follow, alongside four of Shostakovich’s Piano Preludes, arranged by Dmitri Tsyganov for violin and piano. Of these preludes Shostakovich said that ‘when I heard the transcriptions, I forgot that I actually composed the Preludes for piano. They sounded so violinistic’.

A previous prize-winner of some of the most prestigious music competitions in the world including the Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition, the Sibelius Violin Competition, and the Queen Elisabeth Competition, Znaider also enjoys an impressive career as a conductor. In 2010 he was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Mariinsky Orchestra Saint Petersburg; one of the oldest and most respected orchestras in Russia. He previously held the position of Principal Guest Conductor of the Swedish Chamber Orchestra who performed on the National Concert Hall stage just last week with their current conductor Thomas Dausgaard.

As a soloist, Znaider continues to perform regularly with the world’s leading orchestras. Highlights of the season include performances with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Stéphane Denève, Staatskapelle Dresden with Christian Thielemann, and a tour with the London Symphony Orchestra with Sir Antonio Pappano. In recital and chamber performance, Znaider has appeared at all the major concert halls worldwide. This season sees him perform around Europe in cities including Brussels, Bilbao, Copenhagen and London.

Nikolaj Znaider plays the “Kreisler” Guarnerius del Gesù violin from 1741 on extended loan to him by The Royal Danish Theatre through the generosity of the VELUX Foundation and the Knud Højgaard Foundation.

The National Concert Hall’s International Concert Series 2015/2016 continues on December 12th with a performance by the Helsinki Philharmonic under the direction of conductor John Storgårds. The Series is sponsored by Dublin Port and supported by The Irish Times as print media partner.

Tickets are available from the National Concert Hall Box Office, telephone 01-417 00 00 or visit www.nch.ie.
Tickets: €47.50, €42.50, €34.50 (€22.50 choir balcony)
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For further information please contact Sinead Doyle, Marketing & PR Manager, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2. Tel: 01 417 0057/087-1775334