Ammiel Bushakevitz to perform in Zimbabwe

Ammiel Bushakevitz will perform in Zimbabwe next month

ACCLAIMED South African pianist Ammiel Bushakevitz will give recitals in Harare and Bulawayo during a visit to Zimbabwe in May.

Bushakevitz is giving the performances in Zimbabwe for free in order to support the Zimbabwe Academy of Music in Bulawayo, and is appearing in the country as a guest of the Classical Music Association of Zimbabwe, which has arranged his visit.

The recitals will have the support of Performing Arts Bulawayo and Celebrity Subscription Concerts in Harare.

“This is a most exciting visit and we look forward to recitals that contain a pleasing and entertaining series of works,” said Michael Bullivant, chairman of Performing Arts Bulawayo.

Bushakevitz is a laureate of the International Schubert Competition, the International Johannes Brahms Competition, the International Art Song Competition in Stuttgart, the Concours Léopold Bellan in Paris and the Berlin International Song Competition ‘Das Lied’.

He was awarded the pianist prize and the Schubert prize at the 2013 Wigmore Hall International Song Competition in London. He is also active as a musicologist, focusing his research on the life and works of Franz Schubert and Richard Wagner.

Born in Jerusalem and raised in George in South Africa, Bushakevitz performs internationally as a soloist, as a chamber musician and as an accompanist of singers across Europe and the USA.

His programme includes Schubert’s Four Impromptus and UngarischeMelodie;Liszt’s Les jeux d’eaux à la villa d’Este ;Rameau (trans. Godowsky): Rigaudon fromDardanus; Fauré: Romance sans paroles ; Alkan: Duettino from Recueil de chants; Richard Strauss (trans. Bushakevitz): Wiegenlied; Gluck (trans. Sgambati): Mélodie from Orféo ed Euridice; Liszt: Soirées de Vienne No.8, d’après Franz Schubert.

The Harare recital will take place at the Arundel School Chapel on May 8 at 3pm, while the  Bulawayo performance will be at the Robert Sibson Hall at 7pm on Thursday May 12.

Bushakevitz will visit the Eastern Highlands and Victoria Falls as a guest of his hosts and a gesture of thanks for his complimentary performances.

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