We're delighted to have Vitaly Starikov at The New School for a recital as part of the Mannes International Piano Festival!

Program

BACH Italian Concerto in F Major, BWV 671
SHOSTAKOVICH Sonata No. 2 in B Minor, op. 61
intermission
DEBUSSY Études

Program Note:

It should be said that the program is constructed around two “war” works—Debussy and Shostakovich. Both were completed during the two world wars, and it’s very interesting for me to explore how different composers work through their own wartime experiences and sublimate them into music.

However, other things seem at least equally interesting to me.

This program presents strongly contrasting cultures and styles. It starts with Bach, who experiments with the Italian concerto form, and then switches to the dark aesthetic of Shostakovich’s sonata. What unites all the pieces is the attempt to find new ways of musical expression: the composers turn to cultures other than their own in search of new expression.

If Bach’s dialogue with Italian culture seems fairly obvious—in the brilliance, character, and form of the piece—Shostakovich’s “German” nature of the sonata is more hidden in this respect. But it’s striking how “Schubert-like” it sounds at the beginning, and this imparts to the whole piece a certain narrative—just as Schubert often does in his works. Schubert is always telling stories, and this is exactly what Shostakovich does in his sonata. This “storytelling-like” music also works as a musical analogy of a journey, where a hero goes through different places represented by different musical genres. Most telling is “the visit to Baroque Bach” by way of a French-overture episode.

Debussy, for his part, drew inspiration not only from Chopin’s Études, but also from the French clavecinistes, the colors of East and Southeast Asia, and even Czerny—a distinctive blend.

About Vitaly Starikov:

Russian/Israeli pianist Vitaly Starikov has found distinction with “raw, deeply felt, and powerful” (La Scena) performances, while having an unassuming onstage presence and a “willingness less to play at the audience than to draw [them] into musical intimacies” (Dallas Morning News). His bold approach won him silver at the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the admiration of fans around the globe. Vitaly’s perspective on music is manifested in his repertoire: he presents music that reflects not only tradition, but also contemporary life, striving to offer new perspectives on familiar music and introduce lesser-known pieces to wider audiences. His Cliburn performance of Bartók’s Second Piano Concerto electrified the room, with a La Scena reviewer noting that “he understood this music, and gave an impactful, lively, and gripping interpretation on all levels: emotionally, architecturally, and in terms of his sound palette.” This inaugural Cliburn season takes him to the Bravo! Vail and Sunriver Music Festivals; Colorado Springs Philharmonic; and Pacific, Topeka, and Springfield Symphony Orchestras, as well as in recitals throughout the United States.

Vitaly Starikov is represented by the Cliburn.