Abdel-Rahman El Bacha, one of the great pianists of our time, has recorded "Goldberg Variations". El Bacha's brilliant technique and deep insightful analysis have created a perfect beauty. His sharp rhythmic touch, his improvisational and gorgeous melodies, and his soft sounds that bring out the ultimate beauty, create a modern image of "Goldberg". This album also includes "Italian Concerto". The instrument used is a Steinway D-274.
Abdel Rahman El Bacha
Born into a family of musicians in Beirut, Abdel Rahman El Bacha began studying piano in 1967 with Zvart Sarkissian, a pupil of Marguerite Long and Jacques Février. At the age of ten, he gave his first concert with orchestra. In 1973, Claudio Arrau foresees a brilliant career for him and in 1974, France, The Soviet Union and England award him a study grant. He chose France because of his cultural affinity and entered the Paris Conservatoire in Pierre Sancan’s class, where he obtained four first prizes(piano, chamber music, harmony and counterpoint).
From the moment of the startling revelation of his talent at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium at 19 years of age which he won unanimously, he performed in the most prestigious halls in Europe and around the world. From the Mozarteum in Salzburg to the Théâtre des Champs Elysées in Paris, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam to the Herkulessaal in Munich, he plays with prestigious orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre de Paris, The Orchestre national de France, The Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, The Orchestre National de Belgique, The Gulbenkian Orchestra, The NHK Tokyo, The Orchestre de la Suisse Romande... conducted by great conductors. He has recently performed at the Salle Pleyel, Cité de la Musique, Grand Théâtre de Provence ; un the United States with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, The Toledo Symphony Orchestra, at the Salle Bourgie in Montreal and in Japan...
Abdel Rahman El Bacha has an important discography: in 1983 he received from Madame Sergueï Prokofiev in person the Grand Prize of the Académie Charles Cros for the early works of Prokofiev released on the Forlane label, for which he also recorded the Bach Concertos, the Ravel Concertos, works by Schumann, Ravel, Schubert and Rachmaninov. He has recorded the complete works of Chopin for piano in chronological order as well as the works for piano and orchestra with the Orchestre de Bretagne conducted by Stefan Sanderling.
Amongst his recent recordings feature the complete works for piano by Ravel, the 2 books of the Well-Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach, the “Impromptus” by Schubert and Goyescas by Granados on the Octavia Records label(Japan). In 2011, he started a collaboration with the Mirare label by recording solo piano works by Prokofiev followed by the release in 2013 of the complete 32 piano sonatas by Beethoven, which were given a positive welcome by critics.
Abdel Rahman El Bacha, has dual Franco-Lebanese nationality since 1981 and he is also a composer. His works are published by Delatour Editions(France) and a CD of his piano works has been released recently(Mirare records). In 1998, the French Minister of Culture awarded him the title of “Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres” and in 2002, the President of the Lebanese Republic awarded him the Medal of the Order of Merit, the highest honour in his native country.
