Rafal Blechacz was born on June 30th, 1985 in Naklo nad Notecia, Poland. He began his studying the piano at the age of five and is now continuing his education at the Feliks Nowowiejski Music Academy in Bydgoszcz, studying under Professor Katarzyna Popowa-Zydron.
Rafal has been a consummate presence at various international piano competitions over the years. He won second prize at the Artur Rubinstein Young Pianist Competition in Bydgoszcz in 2002 and at the 5th International Young Pianist Competition in Hamamatsu, Japan in 2003. In 2004 he was awarded first prize at the 4th International Piano Competition in Morocco ... read full bio
Rafal Blechacz was born on June 30th, 1985 in Naklo nad Notecia, Poland. He began studying the piano at the age of five and completed his formal education in 2007 at the Feliks Nowowiejski Music Academy in Bydgoszcz studying under Professor Katarzyna Popowa-Zydron. At the age of 22, Blechacz has already been cited by critics as a talent that only comes along every few decades - his playing is characterized by its elegance, delicacy and a poetic solemnity that has invited comparison to the legendary pianists of the early 20th century.
A consummate presence at various international piano competitions over the years, he won second prize at the Arthur Rubinstein Young Pianist Competition in Bydgoszcz in 2002 and at the 5th International Young Pianist Competition in Hamamatsu, Japan in 2003. In 2004 he garnered first prize at the 4th International Piano Competition in Morocco.
2005 was a pivotal year for the young artist unanimously winning first prize and all non-statutory distinctions for best mazurka, polonaise and concerto performances at the 15th International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. He also won four special prizes including the Polish Radio award for best performance of the mazurkas, the Polish Chopin Society award for best performance of the polonaise, the Warsaw Philharmonic award for best performance of the concerto and the award founded by Krystian Zimerman for best sonata performance.
No Polish artist had emerged from this competition whose Chopin could sweep listeners away with the fresh approach, compelling personality and interpretative honesty since Krystian Zimerman won the Competition in 1975. These attributes, coupled with his uncommon humility towards the music and the composer, seem to have characterized Rafal Blechacz's Chopin from his first involvement with it. In recognition of his exceptional talent for closely approaching the Chominesque ideal, the jury decided, for the first time in the competition's history, not to award a second prize.
Winning the Gold Medal at the Chopin Competition opened doors into the most prestigious concert halls around the world. In 2006, Rafal received invitations to perform at the Warsaw Philharmony Hall, the Tchaikovsky Hall of the Moscow Conservatory with the Mariinsky Orchestra under Valery Gergiev, Tonhalle in Zurich and the Concertgebouw in Amserdam. In 2006 he also presented a series of 12 recitals in major concert halls in Japan including Suntory Hall in Tokyo and he gave critically acclaimed performances at the Ruhr, Verbier and La Roque d'Antheron summer music festivals. 2007 brought him to Herkules Saal in Munich, Wigmore Hall in London, Auditorio Nacional in Madrid, re-invitation performances in Japan and Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels. Blechacz's calendar is now fully booked 2 years in advance and includes performances at the major cultural centers of Europe, the North America and the Far East.
In May 2006 the artist signed an exclusive five year contract with Deutsche Grammophon for three recording productions. The first recording was of the complete Chopin Preludes - one of Chopin's most lyrical and best-known piano cycles and the perfect program to introduce the audience to the artistry of this exceptional young pianist. The Preludes were coupled with Two Nocturnes op. 62, arguably the climax of Chopin's achievements in this genre. Only one day after its release in September 2007 the debut recording achieved Gold status, and after the second week of sales in the Polish market it went Platinum.
