Matej Meštrović is the second Croatian pianist to ever perform at Carnegie Hall in New York
The acclaimed Croatian pianist and composer Matej Meštrović is about to crown his career of 40 years with a spectacular concert. He will perform at Carnegie Hall, the prestigious venue in New York which has so far hosted only one other Croatian pianist, Ivo Pogorelić.
“This is something I’ve always wanted and dreamed about, but in the real world, it compares to winning the lottery”, Meštrović said about his upcoming concert. He will perform the Danube Rhapsody, a monumental piece composed for the symphony orchestra and piano which is based on the folklore of Danubian countries and features certain Croatian traditional instruments.
Meštrović rose to the Carnegie-Hall level of stardom owing to the success of his latest album titled 4 Seasons for 3 Pianos, an adaptation of the renowned work of Antonio Vivaldi which got him two awards at the American Global Music Awards. “One of my biggest challenges was adapting all four seasons for three pianos, which is a unique attempt [of the sort] thus far. I was obsessed with Vivaldi for several years, trying to do the best job that I could”, Meštrović said.
Before he gets to perform on the coveted New York stage, Meštrović will hold a premiere of his Chinese Rhapsody in the Lisinski Hall in Zagreb on February 9, accompanied by the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra. A spectacular ending to a concert dedicated to the Chinese New Year: four soloists from China will join Meštrović and the orchestra, playing traditional Chinese instruments.
Meštrović will perform in the Carnegie Hall on April 15, then head to China for a summer tour. After such a successful year, there’s no doubt he’s headed for a reputable international career.
Source: HRT Magazin
