Another great review in Pennsylvania: on April 15,2013 the Butler Eagle said "Virtuoso Enrique Graf was the undeniable star of the evening. His appearance with the Butler Symphony was the ideal capstone to the season. Graf's elegant interpretation of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 was enchanting. Graf and conductor Matthew Kraemer visually consulted each other to blend the solo instrument with the orchestra in excellent balance. The result was a completely satisfying finale to the evening's musical tour the force and received a well deserved standing ovation." On March 26, 2013, Enrique was soloist with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra in the United States premiere of Florencia Di Concilio's Piano Concerto. A sold out crowd in the historic Dock Street Theatre stood up and cheered. So did the reviewers for The Post and Courier and Charleston Today. On January 29, 2013, Graf performed a sold-out benefit recital at the Hilton Head Country Club for the Hilton Head International Piano Competition. After music by Beethoven, Chopin and Tosar the audience had different dinner courses and wines from the countries where the composers came from. Afterwards, Graf spoke and answered questions on what it is like to judge competitions such as this one. It was a huge success. Graf performed at Teatro Solis in Montevideo as part of the "Great Uruguayan Musicians" series in October 2012. On the program were works by Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Gershwin and Tosar. El Pais called him "A Master of the piano". Read the review here. It was another busy summer for Enrique with performances in Brazil (photo) and Italy where he performed with Sergei Babayan conducting (photo). He taught masterclasses in Montevideo, Vale Veneto and Perugia.
Charleston Today wrote in June of 2012 : "What a finale this was for the Young Artists Series! What a testament to the talent of these pianists whose standing ovations say it all. Excellent programming and wonderful playing have always been hallmarks of Enrique Graf's College of Charleston pianists showcase.
Two of Graf's students have been selected to participate in the Leeds International Piano Competition.
In March Graf substituted for French pianist Jaques Rouvier as a juror (photo) at the 2012 Hilton Head International Piano Competition. Later that month and in April, he performed highly succesfull recitals in Bray's Island and Spring Island with a program of piano favorites by Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Gershwin.
His students continue to garner awards, most recently 1st Prizes at the Pittsburgh Concert Society and Carnegie Mellon University's Concerto Competition.
This summer Graf presents again the popular Young Artists Series at Piccolo Spoleto Festival and he will appear in recitals and as soloist with orchestra in Brazil and Italy.
Graf performed Leonardo Balada's Concerto for Piano, Winds and Percussion at Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh on Sunday, February 12, 2012.
The same work was recorded for a new CD of Balada's works to be released on Naxos Records.The Carnegie Mellon Wind Ensemble was conducted by Stephen Story. More info Enrique Graf premiered a new concerto for piano and orchestra by Florencia Di Concilio on Monday November 14, 2011 at the Solis Theatre in Montevideo, Uruguay. The concerto was commissioned by the Orquesta Filarmonica de Montevideo and was performed by the orchestra with Swiss conductor Thomas Herzog. The composer describes her concerto as harmonically "jazzy" with South American rhythmic elements and a mixture of influences from Sergei Rachmaninoff to Bill Evans. Listen here. Enrique Graf will be presented with the "Virgen de los 33" Award for his lifetime contributions to the culture of his native country of Uruguay. The event which will be broadcast nationally will take place in Florida, Uruguay on November 9, 2011. June 10, 2011. Graf was conference guest artist for the Alabama Music Teachers 2011 Convention. The audience rewarded Graf with a standing ovation after a program of sonatas by Mozart, Beethoven and Liszt and works by Uruguayan composers, Gilardoni and Tosar. Charleston Today commenting on Piccolo Spoleto's Festival on June 8, 2011: "Once again, Enrique Graf's Young Artist Series provided not only splendid fare but also superlative performances." On March 23, 2011, Miami's Examiner.com wrote: "Enrique Graf played with brilliant technique. The clarity of his playing illuminated the beautiful score" (Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts,3/22/2011). Graf's students have had an outstanding month. Micah McLaurin was a top prize winner at the Hilton Head International Piano Competition and was accepted to the 2011 Verbier Festival. The Duo of Amy Tan and Chee Hang See were finalists in the 12th Web Concert Hall International Competition. John Lam and Luis Hernandez won 1st and 2nd Prize in Carnegie Mellon University's Instrumental and Vocal Concerto Competition. Irwin Jiang was a finalist in Southeastern Community College's Regional Competition in North Carolina. In 2011 Graf will record Leonardo Balada's Concerto for Piano, Wind and Percussion for Naxos. Also the Philharmonic of Montevideo has asked Graf to premier a recently commissioned piano concerto by Florencia di Concilio. Last summer was especially exciting as Graf performed in Montevideo, Uruguay with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Roberto Tibiriçá in the recently inaugurated National Auditorium. "El Pais" newspaper wrote: "Graf's virtuosism and expresivity make the basis of a national trademark in pianistic interpretation" Five days later a sold out solo recital was nationally brodcast live by SODRE. The next week he performed in solo recitals and with violinist Lee Chin in Spoleto and Music Fest Perugia in Italy.
Also, Micah Mclaurin, a student of Mr. Graf, was awarded the 2nd Prize at the prestigious Ettlingen International Competition for Young Pianists. Another great review! "Graf, a pianist of the highest caliber, kept the capacity house spellbound with his carefully chosen and beautifully produced program." The Post and Courier.Click here to read the full review. Graf received a wonderful review about his last concert with the Symphony of the Americas. Click here to read the full review. Last month Graf received long standing ovations after both concertos with the Symphony of the Americas and was immediately re-engaged for next season to perform Beethoven's Concerto No 4. As of November 1, 2010 Graf will be represented by Fisher Management.Check their website at fishermgt.com Again next summer Graf will perform and teach at Music Fest Perugia Graf and violinist Lee Chin Siow opened the Spotlight Series of Piccolo Spoleto Festival 2009
Charleston's Post and Courier wrote: "Such confident, relaxed and expressive playing can only come from artists at the pinnacle of their craft." A new CD by pianist Enrique Graf on Cougar Classics has been released. It includes a rare recording of the Aria Variata Alla Maniera Italiana, one of two sets of variations written by Bach, the other being the often recorded and performed Goldberg Variations. The other works are Felix Mendelssohn's masterpiece, Variations Serieuses Op. 54 and a monumental reading of Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky. |