HANDO NAHKUR

Piano

It calls for virtuoso technique as well as interpretative skills – both of which are evident in Hando Nahkur’s playing. J. S. Bach’s “Chaconne” /.../ interpretation of this monumental piece is outstanding technically and musically (Free Estonian Word, 10 / 2010, New York)

Biography

Hando Nahkur, born in Estonia, has distinguished himself as one of his country’s most promising young artists. He has garnered top prizes in both national and international piano competitions, including 1st prize in the Estonian National Piano Competition, 3rd prize in the Citta di Treviso International Piano Competition (Italy), 2nd prize in the Konzerteum International Piano Competition (Greece), 3^rd prize in the Chopin International Piano Competition (Estonia) and Golden Medal of Merit (Toronto). Hando Nahkur was a winner of the International Concerto Competition 2008 at the Piano Texas International Academy & Festival. At age sixteen, he made his debut with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. He has also appeared with the Orchestra of the Estonian National Opera, Tallinn Music High School Symphony Orchestra, Tallinn Music High School String Orchestra, the Bergslagen Symphoniker, the St Andrew’s Festival Orchestra and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.
Hando Nahkur has participated in numerous festivals, including the International Holland Music Sessions in the Netherlands, Klaver 2006 in Estonia, the Festival Internacional de Piano Reynosa in Mexico, the Aspen Music Festival and School, TCU-Cliburn Piano Institute, West Chester Piano Institute and Piano Texas International Academy & Festival in the United States. Hando Nahkur is also known as a music arranger. He has arranged many classic pop tunes for solo keyboard, including songs of D Foster, E John, F Sinatra, C Dion, F Mercury, M Moran and many others.
Since 2003 Hando Nahkur has lived in the USA. He holds a Bachelor’s of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Gabriel Chodos, a Certificate in Performance and Master’s of Music degree from the Yale University School of Music, where he studied with Boris Berman and currently Hando Nahkur is continuing his postgraduate studies with Tamás Ungár at the Texas Christian University School of Music. In Estonia he studied with Ülle Sisa, Erna Saar, his father Toivo Nahkur, Aleksandra Juozapénaité-Eesmaa, Kristjan Mäeots, Olav Ehala and Ants Sööt.
A frequent solo performer, Hando Nahkur has performed at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw in the Netherlands, the Theater of Markopoulos Mesogeas (Greece), Hannes Reimann Hall (Switzerland), the Teatro Eden (Italy). And outside of Europe, he has performed at the Casa de la Cultura de Reynosa (Mexico), George Weston Hall (Toronto), Harris Concert Hall (Aspen), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Jordan Hall (Boston), Steinway Hall (New York City), Ed Landreth Hall (Fort Worth) and The Museum of Fine Arts (St Petersburg, FL). In America, recitals and performances have taken him already through twenty-two States. In Europe Hando Nahkur has performed in Italy, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Greece, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Czech Republic. He has also appeared with solo performances in Israel and Russia.

Discography

	O HOLY NIGHT Christmas album HN Productions 2011
	DEUS EX CLAVIER Bach-Busoni, Tüür, Schubert, Schumann ERP 2310 Bach. Chaconne, fragm, 4 min 12 sec, mp3 Tüür. Sonata, Mov III, fragm, 92 sec, mp3 Schumann, Symphonic Studies, Finale. Allegro brillante, fragm, 115 sec, mp3

Press resonance

Interpretation 6/6... Hando Nahkur und seine zweite CD DeusExClavier sind schlicht eine Entdeckung! /.../ Den “offiziellen” Höhepunkt der Platte bilden dann Schumanns Symphonische Etüden op. 13, die selbst gegen die legendäre Deutung eines Wilhelm Kempff oder einer Martha Argerich bestehen können. – Von diesem Pianisten werden wir – hoffentlich – noch sehr viel hören. (Burkhard Schäfer, PIANONews, 11 / 2010, Germany)

Die Platten des Jahres. /.../ Die Debüt-CD des 1982 in Estland geborenen Pianisten Hando Nahkur ist eine der großen Überraschungen der aktuellen Klavierszene. /.../ Hando Nahkur bringt trotz seiner Jugend die Reife und Meisterschaft mit, den Werken neue Aspekte abzuringen und sich mit dieser CD in die Riege der großen Pianisten zu spielen. (Zeit Online, 28.12.10, Germany, whole article)

Paljudes kohtades õppinud ja loorbereid lõiganud Hando Nahkuri plaat on ääretult sümpaatne ja tark oma muusikavaliku ja teostuse poolest. /.../ Supervirtuoosi (mõtlen just Busonit) teose paigutamine CD algusse on nagu “algkõrguse” fikseerimine, mis annab mõista pianisti võimetest. (Virve Normet, Muusika, 9 / 2010, Estonia)

Veebiajakiri Zeit Online valis Nahkuri CD kogu maailma klassikalisest muusikast aasta kolme parima plaadi hulka, põhjendades oma valikut sõnadega: “Hando Nahkur on üks suurtest üllatustest klaverimaastikul. Selle CDga mängis ta end suurte pianistide ridadesse”. Saksa ajakirja PIANONews kriitik Burkhard Schäfer kirjutas väljaande aastalõpunumbris, et “Nahkur ja tema teine CD “Deus Ex Clavier” on lihtsalt avastus! Kõrgpunktiks on Schumanni “Sümfoonilised etüüdid”, mis ei jää alla isegi Wilhelm Kempffi või Martha Argerichi legendaarsetele tõlgendustele.” (Priit Kuusk, Muusika, 2 / 2011, Estonia)

...mina tahan sellest ettepoole tõsta Bach-Busoni “Chaconne’i”, eeskätt selle meisterliku kõlakorralduse poolest. Teose esituse lähtepunkt on küll akadeemiline, kuid teostus küllaltki vabameelne. (Leelo Kõlar, Sirp, 15.04.11, Estonia, whole article)

Represented by ERP from June 1st, 2012. Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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