Hando Nahkur

Orient 2015: O-KAI LAULJAD (Taiwan) (In Estonian)
March 15, 2015
Petr Wagner. Viola da gamba
December 11, 2011

ImagetextHANDO 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 outstanding artists. He has garnered top prizes in both national and international piano competitions, including top prizes in Estonia, Italy, Greece, Russia, the USA and Canada. In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded a prestigiouis Golden Medal of Merit (Canada), joining prominent musicians who have made unique contributions to Estonian music life in Toronto.  In 2010 his CD DeusExClavier was named Record of The Year − Die Platten des Jahres by ZEIT-ONLINE, Germany’s largest weekly newspaper: “Hando Nahkur is one of the greatest new surprises of the classical music scene… with this CD he establishes himself amongst the greatest pianists…” PianoNews wrote about Nahkur’s performance: “… His performance was fascinating… his interpretation can rightfully hold its own even against the legendary pianists Wilhelm Kempff or Martha Argerich…” Nahkur is a recent First Prize winner in the 2012 Meadows International Concerto Competition in Dallas, Texas, USA. 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, Cartago Symphony Orchestra, the St Andrew’s Festival Orchestra and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.
ImagetextHando 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, TCU/Liszt Academy Festival and Piano Texas International Academy & Festival in the United States. In 2006 he was invited to give a lecture and performance at the University of Hartford where he presented a workshop on Romanticism and the Arts. 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,  F Mercury, M Moran and many others. Nahkur’s newest CD O Holy Night (2011) is a full presentation of Nahkur’s skills as a music arranger. O Holy Night features Hando’s and M Hayes’ solo piano arrangements of many Christmas classics performed by Nahkur himself.  
Mr Nahkur 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 Artist Diploma from Texas Christian University School of Music, where he studied with Tamás Ungár. Currently Hando Nahkur is continuing his studies with Joaquín Achúcarro at SMU Meadows School of the Arts. In Estonia he studied at the Tallinn Music High School and Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre 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 (Amsterdam, The Netherlands), the Theater of Markopoulos Mesogeas (Attica, Greece), Hannes Reimann Hall (St Moritz, Switzerland), the Teatro Eden (Treviso, Italy), Vredenburg Leidsche Rijn (Utrecht, The Netherlands), Casa de la Cultura de Reynosa (Mexico), George Weston Hall (Toronto, Canada), Harris Concert Hall (Aspen, USA), Caruth Auditorium (Dallas, USA), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston, USA), Jordan Hall (Boston, USA), Steinway Hall (New York, USA), Ed Landreth Hall (Fort Worth, USA), National Theatre (San José, Costa Rica), Steinway Hall (Fort Worth, USA), Meyerson Symphony Center (Dallas, USA and The Museum of Fine Arts  (St Petersburg, FL) just to name the few. 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. Nahkur has recorded three CDs − Hando Nahkur Works by… (2007, HN Productions), DeusExClavier (2010, ERP) and O Holy Night (2011, HN Productions).

 

Discography

OHolyNight107 O HOLY NIGHT
Christmas album
HN Productions 2011
DeusExClavier107 DEUS EX CLAVIER
Bach-Busoni, Tüür, Schubert, Schumann
ERP 2310
player Bach. Chaconne, fragm, 4 min 12 sec, mp3
player Tüür. Sonata, Mov III, fragm, 92 sec, mp3
player 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 in 2012.

See also other artists represented by ERP