Text: Magdalena Gigova
The holder of the first National Prize in support of young talent in contemporary arts and science plays with her teacher, Louis Lortie
Pianist Victoria Vassilenko, who became the first winner of the National Prize in support of young talent in contemporary arts and science, launched by the NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’, is taking part in a large-scale international project.
The Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel at the eponymous Royal Conservatory of Brussels released the album, Mozart Double. ‘The idea was to include all the double concerts of the Austrian genius, but owing to the coronavirus situation, some of the recordings could not be made,’ explained Victoria Vassilenko, who has been specialising at the 100-year-old school, whose patron is the present Queen, Paola of Belgium.
That is why the Mozart Double CD includes Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in E-flat Major, Concerto for Piano and Violin in D Major (unfinished and therefore unknown to the general public), as well as the K. 505 Concert Aria for Soprano, Piano and Orchestra. These documentary recordings were made in 2019 and 2020 with the Sinfonie Orchester Biel Solothurn (Switzerland), conducted by Kaspar Zehnder.
‘In fact, we recorded in two places—in the Biel and at the BOZAR Hall in Brussels,’ said Victoria, a performer in the Double Piano Concerto with her teacher, famous Canadian pianist Louis Lortie.
He also partners mezzo-soprano Iris van Wijnen in the Concert Aria. In the third composition, the soloists are Vladyslava Luchenko, violin, and Frank Braley, piano. All are teachers and alumni of the prestigious European Academy of Music.
‘The album’s premiere took place on 8 November on digital platforms. We hope that when the Covid-19 situation is over, we will make an official presentation in Brussels,’ Ms Vassilenko concluded.
Video Teaser of the CD:
Video Teaser of the CD: