The Sydney presents Spellbinding Performances by Two Australian Piano Icons, Tamara Anna Cislowska and Gerard Willems AM

This March, The Sydney International Piano Competition (The Sydney), is thrilled to present an evening of illuminating solos and duets, performed on two grand pianos by Australia’s leading proponents for the piano – Tamara Anna Cislowska and Gerard Willems AM.

From Beethoven to Gershwin, audiences will be mesmerised by the wondrous talents of Cislowska and Willems as they perform at Melbourne Recital Centre and City Recital Hall, Sydney on the 17th and 23rd March respectively.

Singularly outstanding and together a tour de force, their virtuosic command of the piano delivers a fierce exposé of harmony, romance, elegance and a shared passion for music that transcends the senses.

Tamara and Gerard will join together to bring to life the hypnotic works of acclaimed composers Mozart, Beethoven and Gershwin, with solos of masterpieces by Greig and Liszt rounding out this musical exchange between two celebrated Australian pianists.

One of Australia’s most renowned and ARIA award-winning pianists, Tamara Anna Cislowska has performed and recorded world-wide to critical acclaim as a recitalist, chamber musician and concerto soloist. Earning international prizes such as the Rovere d’Oro, and touring internationally as cultural ambassador for Australia, Tamara’s accolades include ABC Young Performer of the Year, the Freedman Fellowship and the 2015 ARIA award for ‘Best Classical Album’.

Gerard Willems AM is an Australian living legend of the piano whose performance and teaching career spans Australia, Asia and Europe. Boasting multiple ARIA awards for his recordings of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas, five piano concertos with Sinfonia Australis, and the ‘Diabelli Variations’, Gerard is recognised as a pre-eminent specialist of the first Viennese school.

Piers Lane AO, Artistic Director of The Sydney, said, “This is a very special moment to relish with two Australian piano legends performing together an epic showcase of the piano library”.

As part of this musical feast, a very special in conversation interview with Tamara and Gerard will be presented by admired ABC Classic FM hosts Mairi Nicholson, in Melbourne, and Damien Beaumont, in Sydney.

In 2023, the Sydney International Piano Competition (The Sydney) will once again return to a live event from 5th to 22 July, with 32 of the world’s finest young pianists travelling to Australia to compete for top honours at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, culminating in the Finals at the Sydney Opera House.

PROGRAM:

MOZART Overture from The Magic Flute K.620 (Busoni) [Gerard Willems & Tamara Anna Cislowska]
Beethoven Symphony No.7 in A Op.92 [Tamara Anna Cislowska & Gerard Willems]
Grieg Solitary Traveller Op.43 No.2, Morning Mood Op.46 No.1, and Butterfly Op.43 No.1 [Gerard Willems]
Liszt Abschied 1885 (to Siloti), and Concert Paraphrase on Verdi ‘Rigoletto’ [Tamara Anna Cislowska]
Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue [Gerard Willems & Tamara Anna Cislowska]

LOCATIONS:

Melbourne
When: Friday, 17th March 7:30pm
Location: Melbourne Recital Centre’s Elisabeth Murdoch Hall – Corner of Southbank Boulevard & Sturt Street, Melbourne
Tickets: $30-84

Sydney
When: Thursday, 23rd March 7:30pm
Location: City Recital Hall – 2 Angel Place, Sydney NSW 2000, Sydney
Tickets: $30-$90