About
An exclusive Decca artist, Behzod Abduraimov’s debut recital CD was released during the spring of 2012, gaining him worldwide recognition. Extraordinarily talented, he is an artist establishing an impressive reputation for electrifying audiences with his captivating performances.
“His debut disc naturally includes plenty that shows off his virtuosity, but music of greater emotional complexity lies at the heart of his programme. Prokofiev’s Sixth Sonata, a complex mix of mood, has kaleidoscopic colour, fierce intensity and, notably in that aching slow-movement waltz, genuine soul.” (The Sunday Times, July 2012)
Debut Performances
Behzod made a number of debuts during the 2011/12 season including Atlanta, Tokyo and Kansas City Symphonies, National Arts Center Orchestra Ottawa (as part of their Russian Festival), Lausanne Chamber Orchestra (under the auspices of the Orpheum Foundation), Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo, English Chamber Orchestra and he embarked on a major tour of Australia which included Sydney Symphony, Adelaide and West Australian Symphony Orchestras in addition to recitals in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane as well as Hong Kong. In April 2012 he made his debut at Royal Albert Hall with a performance of Tchaikovski’s Piano Concerto No 1.
“Abduraimov showed fearless athleticism matched with pearly articulacy. Abduraimov effortlessly nourished the mood and length of Liszt’s Benediction de Dieu dans la Solitude while stressed on the tonal beauty of the piece, totally spell-binding. Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz No. 1 was equally stunning with scrupulous timing, nicely judged rubato and thoughtful poetry. Age 21 or not, this recital was an outstanding Hong Kong debut!” (Time Out Hong Kong, March 2012)
In the coming months, he will be performing worldwide, including the English Chamber Orchestra Music Cruise, as well as dates in Europe, North America and Russia. He has the major support of Vladimir Ashkenazy and other collaborations include Charles Dutoit, Pinchas Zuckerman, Michael Christie, Krzysztof Urbański, Michael Stern and Alexander Lazarev.
Award-winning concert pianist
At the age of 18, Behzod achieved a sensational victory in the 2009 London International Piano Competition, winning first prize with his thrilling performance of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3. This resulted in invitations to work with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, where he gave a breathtaking performance of Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 2. He also toured toChinaandKuala Lumpurwith the Sydney Symphony under Vladimir Ashkenazy to great critical acclaim. Following their successful collaboration, they appeared again as part of the 2010 MusikfestBremen. Behzod has also appeared at the Piano Olympics in Bad Kissingen (where he won first prize), the BOZAR inBrusselsand made a triumphant Wigmore Hall debut in May 2010.
Since his first performance as a soloist at the age of eight with the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan, Behzod has given many concerts in the USA, Italy, Russia and Uzbekistan.
Behzod Abduraimov was born in Tashkent in 1990 and began to play the piano at the age of five. He was a pupil of Tamara Popovich at the Uspensky State Central Lyceum in Tashkent, and is currently studying at the International Center for Music at Park University, Kansas City studying with Stanislav Ioudenitch.