The Greytown Music’s association with Greytown goes back to the 1990s, during which he did 5 solo concerts here, and one with the Turnovsky Trio.
At age 12, Eugene won 1st prize in Romania’s National Music Competition. His family immigrated to New Zealand shortly afterwards, and at age 16 he was the youngest winner of the NZSO Young Musicians’ Competition. With the aid of scholarships he studied at Indiana University, and as he was also given an assistant instructorship position, at 17 he became the youngest person to teach there. His emergence on the international scene was in 1994, when his debut recording “Albulescu plays Liszt”, earned him the Grand Prix du Disque Liszt.
A noted New York critic praised Eugene for his “infallible fingers of steel”, declaring that “nothing, anywhere, has terrors for him”. He has worked as conductor and soloist with many major orchestras, has presented his signature educational programme “Inside the Piano” in over 100 high schools across the USA, and has been the Ulrich Professor of Music at Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, for about 30 years.
Eugene is enjoying his NZ sabbatical, enabling him to reconnect with the country and the people he has missed over his years in the US. He hopes to retire here someday, when he may have more time to enjoy his outside interests of building boats and harpsichords: to date 3 dinghies and 2 harpsichords!
When asked what his most memorable playing experience was, and why, he recalled a concert in New York at Bargemusic – on a floating barge, playing Liszt’s Legend no.2, which portrays the legend of St Francis de Paul walking on the waters. The piece is very depictive, with swoops and almost sea-sickening passages, and the swell of the river made it even more of a sensation. Adding to the theatrics of the performance were New York’s magnificent lights, plus snow and lightning!
When asked what his most memorable playing experience was, and why, he recalled a concert in New York at Bargemusic – on a floating barge, playing Liszt’s Legend no.2, which portrays the legend of St Francis de Paul walking on the waters. The piece is very depictive, with swoops and almost sea-sickening passages, and the swell of the river made it even more of a sensation.
Eugene’s Greytown programme will include music by Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin.
Pianist Eugene Albulescu:4pm on Sunday 23 May at 57 Wood St, Greytown. Admission $30, children $12. For bookings contact Ed and Juliet Cooke, efjacooke@gmail.com, or ph 304 9497.
Romantic music. Bethany has played both cello and harpsichord with the NZSO and Orchestra
