“Here is a performer who already knows a huge amount not just about technique, but performance itself. Dispatching the Piano Concerto No 1, what was most noticeable about this fizzing display was showmanship without ostentatious theatrics, and a generous willingness, particularly in the balletic second movement, to let Gergiev and the by now fully fired-up London Symphony players to take the lead where the music required it. But he had the spotlight all to himself for Liszt’s Campanella, an encore delivered with delicate panache.”
The Times, September 2011“The charismatic young Russian tore into the Tchaikovsky first piano concerto with exhilarating confidence and formidable technique.”
The Guardian, September 2011“The way Daniil Trifonov played, you’d say he was a mature master, rather than a mere 20-year-old. Power in spades, crystalline passage-work, and a pearlised singing tone: he’s already got it all, and his encore – Liszt’s ‘La Campanella’ – had both flawless delicacy, and an engaging modesty.”
The Independent, September 2011"Mr. Trifonov has scintillating technique and a virtuosic flair. He is also a thoughtful artist ... he can play with soft-spoken delicacy, not what you associate with competition conquerors."
Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times, July 2011
Rising, young pianist Daniil Trifonov won the Grand Prix as well as the Gold Medal and the Prize for the Best Performance of the Chamber Concerto in the piano competition of the XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in July 2011 ... read full bio
Born in Nizhniy Novgorod in 1991, Daniil Trifonov is emerging as one of the brightest new names of the next generation of pianists. During the 2010/11 season he won medals at three of the most prestigious competitions in the music world: the Chopin Competition in Warsaw (Bronze Medal), the Rubinstein Competition in Tel Aviv (First Prize) and the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow (Gold Medal).
During these performances he impressed jury members and observers such as Martha Argerich, Krystian Zimerman, Van Cliburn, Nelson Freire, Yefim Bronfman and Valery Gergiev. Gergiev personally awarded Trifonov the 'Grand Prix' in Moscow, an additional award given to the best overall competitor in any of that Competition's categories.
Following these accolades, Trifonov has been invited to perform by many major promoters worldwide during the 2011/12 season. Highlights include debuts with the London Symphony Orchestra and Mariinsky Orchestra with Gergiev, Israel Philharmonic with Mehta and the Warsaw Philharmonic with Antoni Wit, as well as collaborations with such conductors as Mikhail Pletnev, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Sir Neville Marriner, Pietari Inkinen and Eivind Gullberg-Jensen. He also gives performances at the Salle Pleyel Paris, Carnegie Hall New York, Suntory Hall Tokyo, Wigmore Hall London and venues across Italy, France, Israel and Poland. Recent concerts by Daniil Trifonov have included his Japanese debut in Tokyo, recitals at the Mariinsky Concert Hall and at Moscow Easter Festival, a Chopin birthday concert in Warsaw conducted by Krzysztof Penderecki, and recitals at the Teatro La Fenice in Italy and at the Brighton Festival in the UK. He has also recently performed with the Orchestra Verdi in Milan.
Daniil Trifonov began his musical studies at the age of five. He studied at Moscow Gnesin School of Music in the class of Tatiana Zelikman (2000-2009), teacher of such artists as Konstantin Lifschitz, Alexander Kobrin and Alexei Volodin. From 2006 to 2009 he also studied composition and has continued to write piano, chamber and orchestral music since then. Since 2009, he has studied piano at the Cleveland Institute of Music in the class of Sergei Babayan.
In 2008, at the age of 17, Trifonov was awarded at the 4th International Scriabin Competition (2008, Moscow) and triumphed at 3rd International Piano Competition of San Marino Republic (1st Prize and Special Prize “Republic of San Marino 2008”). He was also prize winner of the Moscow Open Artobolevskaya Competition for Young Pianists (First Prize, Moscow, 1999), International Competition Memory of Mendelssohn (First Prize, Moscow, 2003), International Television Competition for Young Musicians (Grand Prize, Moscow, 2003), the Chamber Ensembles Festival “The Return” (Moscow, 2005, 2007), the Romantic Music Festival for Young Musicians (Moscow, 2006), the 5th International Chopin Competition for Young Pianists (2006, Beijing). He received a Guzik Foundation Career Grant in 2009, and toured the USA and Italy as a consequence of this. Elsewhere, he has performed in Russia, Germany, Austria, Poland, China, Canada and Israel.
Daniil Trifonov has performed at international music festivals, among them Rheingau (Germany), Crescendo (Russia), New Names (Russia), Arpeggione (Austria), Musica in Villa (Italy), Dame Myra Hess Series (USA), the International Festival Institute at Round Top (USA), Santo Stefano (Italy), Festival Pianistico di Trieste (Italy). His first CD was released on Decca in 2011, featuring a selection of Chopin solo piano works. He has also made a number of television recordings in Russia, the USA and Italy.
Last updated August 2011. Contact Opus 3 Artists for the most up-to-date version.
Audio Clips:
From Daniil Trifonov Plays Chopin (Decca Classics)
Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58-Allegro maestoso
Etude in F Major, Op. 10 No. 8
Mazurka No. 34 in C Major, Op. 56 No. 2
