Country

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Serbia

Birth

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October 20, 1958 in Belgrade, Serbia

Genre

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Keyboard

 

Ivo Pogorelich is a renowned classical pianist who was born on October 20, 1958, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). He was born into a family of musicians, with his mother being a pianist and his father a violinist. Pogorelich began playing the piano at the age of seven and showed exceptional talent from an early age. Pogorelich's musical education began at the Music School in Belgrade, where he studied with Professor Jokuthon Mihailovich. He later continued his studies at the Moscow Conservatory with Professor Evgeny Timakin. Pogorelich's talent was quickly recognized, and he won several awards and competitions during his early years of study. In 1976, Pogorelich won the Casagrande International Piano Competition in Terni, Italy, which marked the beginning of his international career. He went on to win several other competitions, including the Montreal International Music Competition in 1978 and the Naumburg International Piano Competition in 1980. Pogorelich's breakthrough performance came in 1980 when he participated in the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, Poland. His performance was controversial, as the jury did not award him a prize, despite his exceptional talent. The decision caused an uproar in the music world, and many prominent musicians, including Martha Argerich and Vladimir Horowitz, spoke out in support of Pogorelich. Despite the controversy, Pogorelich's career continued to flourish, and he became known for his unique interpretations of classical works. He has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra. Pogorelich has also recorded extensively, with over 20 albums to his name. His recordings have received critical acclaim and have won several awards, including the Grand Prix du Disque and the Diapason d'Or. In addition to his performances and recordings, Pogorelich has also been involved in music education. He has taught masterclasses at several prestigious institutions, including the Juilliard School in New York and the Mozarteum in Salzburg. Throughout his career, Pogorelich has received numerous awards and honors. In 1986, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, and in 1993, he was awarded the Order of Danica Hrvatska, the highest civilian honor in Croatia. Despite his success, Pogorelich has remained a controversial figure in the music world. His unconventional interpretations and his refusal to conform to traditional performance practices have often divided critics and audiences. In recent years, Pogorelich has continued to perform and record, and his legacy as one of the most innovative and talented pianists of his generation remains secure.

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