World pianist plays in Featherston on March 3

Wairarapa concert-goers raved about Nikolai Saratovsky on his all-too-brief visit to New Zealand last year.

The master pianist is a highly-regarded professor in the prestigious Music Department of the University of Taiwan. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of classical piano, an impeccable technique and is in great demand for student masterclasses wherever he goes in the world.

His NZ mentor Mary Gow first met Saratovsky in Brussels on a concert tour of her own.

“I knew right away that this young man was very special. He has such fire and dynamism on his playing and he demonstrated such an understanding of the great composers _ even the ones demanding great skill and technique,” she said. “I knew he would be going far.”

At the first opportunity, Gow arranged a concert tour to New Zealand for Saratovsky.

“He fell in love with the country,” she said. “He loves the outdoors, and New Zealand worked its spell on him.”

Nikolai has returned several times _ even though he has received international recognition, occupies an important teaching post and wherever he gives a concert he fills prestigious concert halls in the Far East and Europe.

Saratovsky will be playing at Anzac Hall in Featherston on Sunday March 3, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. 

The programme will include Chopin Preludes, Brahms Opus 76, Scriabin and more.

Information and tickets ($35, students $15) from marygow@gmail.com The Dickensian Bookshop in Featherston, Mrs Blackwell’s Bookshop in Greytown and Martinborough i:Site.

Website: www.mulledwineconcerts.com