“… virtuoso technique as well as interpretative skills − both of which are evident in Hando Nahkur’s playing.” (Free Estonian Word, New York)
Hando Nahkur’s Waltzing Mephisto by the Danube − GLOBAL MUSIC AWARDS: Silver Medal Winner in the categories of instrumentalist and classical music (March 2016)
1−13 | Robert Schumann | Kinderszenen (Childhood Scenes), Op 15 | 17:57 |
14 | Robert Schumann – Ferenc Liszt | Dedication | 4:34 |
15 | Vincenzo Bellini – Ferenc Liszt | Réminiscences de Norma, S 394 | 19:19 |
16 | Ferenc Liszt | Mephisto Walz No 1 | 11:29 |
17 | Heino Eller | Kodumaine viis (Homeland Melody) | 3:41 |
18 | Johann Strauss – Aldolf Schulz-Evler | Arabesques on An der schönen blauen Donau | 12:18 |
#7, Robert Schumann, Kinderszenen (Childhood Scenes), Op 15, Träumerei (Dreaming), fragm, 2 min 21 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps
#18, Johann Strauss – Adolf Schulz-Evler, Arabesques on An der schönen blauen Donau (The blue Danube), fragm, 4 min 55 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps
Recorded in Fort Worth and Dallas, USA
Engineered by Andrew Corbitt, Sam Stratton
Pianos − Steinway & Sons, Yamaha
Mastered by Tanel Klesment
Design by Mart Kivisild
Photos by Kaupo Kikkas, Roger Hein
Liner notes by Inna Kivi
Translated by Tiina Jokinen
Co-produced by Peeter Vähi
Stereo
2015
ERP 8115
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), 3rd 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, 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 his father Toivo Nahkur, Prof Aleksandra Juozapénaité-Eesmaa, Prof Olav Ehala and Prof 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 the USA, recitals and performances have taken him already through 22 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.
Distribution in Estonia by Easy-Living Music, reispuk@neti.ee, phone +372 51 06058
See also other recordings of Hando Nahkur: Deus Ex Clavier
See also other piano recordings by ERP: Keyboard Juggleress, Enter Denter, Heino Eller, Estonian Preludes, Northern Lights Sonata, The Well-tempered Clavier I, Sergei Rahmaninov. Piano Works, Toivo Nahkur, Neeme Järvi, Marginalia, Wiegenlieder der Schmerzen, Call of the Stars, Melancholy, Magic of Sound, Aleksandra Juozapénaité-Eesmaa, Resurrection of Mozart