Rafal Blechacz
is a Polish pianist. He was born on June 30 1985 in Naklo nad
Notecia. He is well
known for being the winner of the 15th International
Frederick Chopin Piano
Competition on October 21 2005, and for his
exceptional maturity.
Rafal has
begun to learn the piano at the age of 5. He completed his
secondary education in the National Arthur Rubinstein Music School in
Bydgoszcz, and
now continues his studies in the
Music Academy in Bydgoszcz under
Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń. From the beginning of its
career as a
pianist, he has received a lot of prizes. For instance, he has
wun
the Second Prize of the Arthur Rubinstein Piano Competition
in Bydgoszcz
in 2002, and in other countries, like Germany, Japan (Hamamatsu in
2003) or Marocco (2004).
But the most important of his life is the first prize in Frederick
Chopin Piano Competition. He has been given that prize in unanimity andbecame
the fourth Polish
pianist to win the prestigious competition.
To prove his artistic superiority, the
judges decided none of the
other competitors was worthy of a second prize.
He has received a gold medal and three other awards :
- Best performance of a Polonaise
- Best performance of a Mazurka
- Best performance of a Concerto
Krystian
Zimmerman was the last Polish pianist who had wun that
competition, in 1975. Rafal Blechacz is by the way opening the
doors of the most prestigious concert halls of the world. In 2006 he
has been invited by Valery Gergiev in Moscow.
On May,
29th 2006, Rafal signs a contract with Deutsche Grammophon, for
a duration of 5 years and the record of 3 CDs.
