Sources of Inspiration: Evgeny Kissin

Kissin performing Beethoven’s Ecossaise in E-flat major, WoO 86

As I look at the pianists who are playing at Carnegie Hall in the coming season, the list is full of extremely impressive names. Everyone from Lang Lang to Emanuel Ax, Daniil Trifonov to Víkingur Ólafsson, among many others.

However, in reading that list I continued to focus on Evgeny Kissin, whom I discovered when I was eight years old. It was on YouTube, in a performance of Beethoven’s Ecossaise.

I remember being captivated by his light, brilliant tone, his skillful use of dynamics, and his ability to captivate an audience. I vowed to myself that one day I too would perform in large venues and receive thunderous applause, just like him.

After hearing his performance and falling in love with this piece, I performed it in my first solo recital in 2015, The program for that performance was as follows:

I

Z and No. 25
L’alphabet, Op. 17
Félix Le Couppey (1811—1887)

II

Étude No. 11
30 Études de mécanisme, Op.849
Carl Czerny (1791—1857)

III

Invention No. 1 in C major, BWV 772
Invention No. 4 in D-minor, BWV 775
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685—1750)

IV

Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major, K.545
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756—1791)

V

Ecossaise in E-flat major, WoO 86
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770—1827)

VI

“Hydrangea Sparkle”
“Piano of Memories”
Nana Miyoshi (b. 2007)

VII

Puck Op. 71, No. 3
Lyriske stykker
(Lyric Pieces)
Edvard Grieg (1843—1907)

As an encore I performed a piano arrangement of "Mother's Song" from the Japanese animated film Wolf Children, with lyrics by Mamoru Hosoda and music by Masakatsu Takagi, performed by Ann Sally.

Although I have never heard Kissin perform in person, I would certainly like to do so one day. Not only would like to hear him, but also thank him for being such an inspiration.

Tap an icon below to share this blog on social media, email, or your favorite messaging app.