Pianist Elisso Virsaladze returns to Alicante for a monographic Chopin recital this Wednesday at 20.00, to be held at Teatro Principal as part of the Alicante Concert Society season. Virsaladze is a beloved figure for the venue, a relationship that stretches back to 1982, when the Georgian pianist began visiting the city. Over the years he has presented a wide array of programs, enriching the audience with his refined artistry.
Elisso Virsaladze grew up in Tbilisi within a family immersed in art and culture. He began piano studies with his grandmother, Anastasia Virsaladze, laying the foundations for a career that would unfold across continents. After finishing at the conservatory, he left his homeland and pursued opportunities in Istanbul and Moscow. He earned the third prize at the Tchaikovsky Competition at the age of twenty, a milestone that opened international doors and opportunities.
Further studies in Moscow with Heinrich Neuhaus and Yakov Zak created a deep-rooted connection to the renowned tradition of Russian piano pedagogy. The Concert Ensemble describes him as an extraordinary teacher whose influence extends through many successful students. Virsaladze frequently appears at the Moscow Conservatory and at Munich’s Musikhochschule, and he is regularly invited to jury major competitions around the world, including Santander, Geza Anda in Zurich, Rubinstein in Tel Aviv, and, of course, the Tchaikovsky and the Richter in Moscow.
His artistic focus naturally gravitates toward 18th and 19th century masters, with strong affinity for Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and Schumann. At twenty-four, he won the Zwickau Schumann Competition, and international press has highlighted him as one of the leading interpreters of Schumann in contemporary performance. In addition to his chamber music and solo recitals, he is noted for a broad repertoire that includes modern Russian composers and contemporary works.
Concerts and orchestras
Virsaladze regularly performs in major cultural centers such as London, Milan, Rome, Paris, Lisbon, Berlin, and Barcelona. He has appeared in duet performances with cellist Natalia Gutman in cities including Vienna, Berlin, Brussels, Madrid, Munich, Milan, Geneva, London, and Lausanne. His touring footprint extends through chamber music and collaborations with orchestras like the Petersburg Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London. He also appears with prestigious ensembles across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Japan, and the United States, among others.
Throughout his career, he has collaborated with renowned conductors such as Rudolf Barshai, Kyrill Kondrashin, Mariss Jansons, Riccardo Muti, Kurt Sanderling, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Evgeny Svetlanov, and Yuri Temirkanov. His extensive discography, released by Live Classics, comprises numerous live recordings that offer a comprehensive portrait of Virsaladze’s musical personality. These recordings reveal a pianist who navigates a rich spectrum of styles with clarity, elegance, and a distinctive sense of architecture in musical line and gesture.