Alexandra Dariescu Explained

Alexandra Dariescu
Birth Date:16 August 1985
Birth Place:Iași, Romania
Occupation:Pianist
Instrument:Piano
Website:Official site

Alexandra Ioana Dariescu (born 16 August 1985) is a Romanian British classical concert pianist, educator, mentor and producer. She is best known for her multimedia project The Nutcracker and I [1] and her focus on promoting the works of female composers.[2]

Early life and education

Dariescu was born in Iași, Romania, in 1985 where she started studying the piano at the age of 7 with Cornelia Apostol and Mihaela Constantin.[3] [4] [5] Her concerto debut was at the age of 9 with the Moldova Philharmonic Orchestra.[6]

At the age of 17, Dariescu won the Constantin Silvestri scholarship which led her to move to the UK to study at Pocklington School.[7] In 2014, she was awarded the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) scholarship for her undergraduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music.[8] Dariescu made her UK debut at the Bridgewater Hall in 2006, where she performed Mozart Piano Concerto No. 15 with André de Ridder and the RNCM Chamber Orchestra live on BBC Radio 3.[9] She studied under Mark Ray, Nelson Goerner, Alexander Melnikov and Dina Parakhina, graduating in 2008 with 1st class Hons and the Gold Medal.[10] Dariescu has been an RNCM's Honorary Associate Artist since 2016[11] and their Associated Member since 2020.[12]

In 2008, Dariescu won the Young Concert Artist Trust competition (YCAT).[13] In the same year, Dariescu started her Masters at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Ronan O’Hora[14] and became the first pianist on the YCAT/ Royal Philharmonic Society Philip Langridge Mentoring Scheme, mentored by Dame Imogen Cooper. While at the GSMD, Dariescu won the Guildhall Wigmore Prize[15] and graduated with Distinction[16] and a Fellowship. She went back to study at the GSMD in 2016 for a one year course in Creative Entrepreneurship.[17]

Since 2012, Dariescu attended several times the Verbier Festival Academy,[18] studying with Dmitri Bashkirov,[19] Menahem Pressler,[20] Gábor Takács-Nagy[21] and was awarded the Verbier Festival CUBS Award.[22] Dariescu studied with Dominique Merlet at the Academy de Villecroze,[23] Philippe Cassard at the Tibor Varga Academy in Sion, Sir András Schiff in New York, London and Gstaad and Boris Berman at the Holland Music Sessions.

Dariescu has played with orchestras including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the European Union Youth Orchestra, the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec and the Sichuan Symphony Orchestra.[24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29]

Professional career

Performances and repertoire

2012 Carnegie Hall recital debut.[30]

2013 First female Romanian pianist to perform at the Royal Albert Hall[31] with Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Debut with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Vasily Petrenko with Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2.[32]

2015 Debut at the Concertgebouw,[33] followed by debut in Poland with the Szczecin Philharmonic Orchestra and Ewa Strusinska.[34]

2016 Japan debut at the Musashino Hall.[35] Debut with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra and John Storgårds in Norway, performing the Norwegian premiere of Alberto Ginastera's Concierto Argentino.[36]

2017 Debut at the Musikverein performing Dinu Lipatti’s Concertino and Grieg's Piano Concerto with the Transylvania State Philharmonic Orchestra and Gabriel Bebeselea.[37] The same year, debuts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall (Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2);[38] National Radio Orchestra of Romania and Cristian Măcelaru;[39] Zuger Sinfonietta and Daniel Huppert (Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 27)[40] and Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra and Michael Francis (Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini).[41] December 2017, premiere of own production of The Nutcracker and I for piano, ballerina and digital animations.[42]

2018 USA, Canada and China tour: Debuts with the Utah Symphony Orchestra and Kazuki Yamada (Grieg's Piano Concerto),[43] Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and Marzena Diakun (Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1)[44] and Sichuan Symphony Orchestra under Darrell Ang (Tchaikovsky's No. 1).[45] The same year, first performance with Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu at the Vienna State Opera.[46]

2019 Debuts with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and James Gaffigan (Nadia Boulanger’s Fantaisie at the Barbican Hall, broadcast live on BBC Radio 3);[47] Orchestre National de France and Ion Marin (Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major);[48] UK tour with the Moscow Philharmonic and Yuri Simonov (Rachmaninov's No. 2 and Tchaikovsky's No. 1);[49] Tonkünstler Orchestra and Ruth Reinhardt (Ferdinand Ries' Piano Concerto No. 3).[50] The Nutcracker and I performances at the Verbier Festival.[51]

2020 Before the pandemic, debuts with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Jun Märkl (Ravel's G major);[52] Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Alexander Shelley (Grieg's Piano Concerto);[53] Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and Giordano Bellicampi (Tchaikovsky's No. 1);[54] Berlin State Opera recital with Angela Gheorghiu.[55] Norwegian Nadia Boulanger premiere with the Oslo Philharmonic and Fabien Gabel.[56] Premiere of The Nutcracker - Reimagined with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, a new production for piano, narrator, brass and dancers.[57]

The Nutcracker and I by Alexandra Dariescu for piano, ballerina & digital animation

The Nutcracker and I is a multimedia performance for piano solo with dance and digital animation which Dariescu created and produced out of her "responsibility as a young artist to reach out to as many people as possible and to build bridges for those new to classical music".[58] The Nutcracker and I premiered at Barbican’s Milton Court in December 2017[59] and went on tour across Europe, Australia, China, the Emirates and the US with more than 75 performances in venues such as the Vienna Konzerthaus,[60] Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Philharmonie Luxembourg,[61] Auditorium Lyon,[62] Verbier Festival, Konserthuset Gothenburg,[63] King’s Place London,[64] Melbourne Recital Hall,[65] Sydney City Recital Hall,[66] Royal Liverpool Philharmonic,[67] Shanghai Grand Theatre,[68] Dubai Opera House[69] and Las Vegas Summerlin Library. The Nutcracker and I reached more than 70,000 people worldwide through the live performances[70] and the 2018 released audio book of the same name, narrated by former BBC Blue Peter presenter and BAFTA winner, Lindsey Russell.[71] In 2019, The Nutcracker and I was shortlisted for the German Opus Klassik Awards in the youth development category,[72] alongside nine nominees including projects by Daniel Barenboim, Lang Lang and Anne-Sophie Mutter.[73]

Mentoring and teaching

Dariescu is a mentor and teacher, having given masterclasses and lessons in the UK, Switzerland, Germany, Romania, Japan, China, South Africa and Canada

She regularly speaks at conferences and sits on juries and panels:

2021: Awarded with the Order “Cultural Merit” in the rank of Knight from the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis[74]

2021: Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance: Jury member Alfred Kitchin Competition[75] and Concerto Competition[76]

2021: Royal Over-Seas League: Jury member Annual Music Competition[77]

2020—present: Beyond Borders (sessions on leadership, collaboration and orchestras’ relevance to society, through the eyes of a conductor)[78]

2019: University of Liverpool: Speaker - Women in Music[79]

2018—present: Friends of Europe - Young European Leader, Arts and Culture (Working Group Member)[80]

2018: Classical:NEXT Conference in Rotterdam (Netherlands): Speaker[81]

2018: GSMD's Reflective Conservatoire Conference: Speaker Artists as citizens - Role of musicians in today’s world and how to incorporate multimedia in performances[82]

2018: Received the “Officer of the Romanian Crown” from the Romanian Royal Family

2017: Music in Lyddington: Patron[83]

2017: Royal Northern College of Music: Jury member Concerto Competition Finals

2016: Transylvania Festival: Director of Music and Board Member[84]

2016: Young Concert Artists Trust: Speaker - Building networks in classical music

2016—present: Royal Northern College of Music: Honorary Associate Artist

2014—present: Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation: Foundation Ambassador[85]

Discography

2019 Plaisir d'Amour. Angela Gheorghiu & Alexandra Dariescu. Decca Classics[86]

2019 Complete Preludes, Vol. 3 Boulanger, Fauré & Messiaen. Champs Hill Records[87]

2018 The Nutcracker and I, by Alexandra Dariescu audiobook. Signum Classics[88]

2016 Emily Howard Mesmerism for piano & orchestra / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. NMC Records[89]

2016 Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 / Nutcracker Suite with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Signum Classics[90]

2015 Complete Preludes, Vol. 2 Shostakovich & Szymanowski. Champs Hill Records[91]

2013 Complete Preludes, Vol. 1 Chopin & Dutilleux. Champs Hill Records[92]

2012 Chopin, Schumann and Liszt. Champs Hill Records[93]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Nutcracker and I, by Alexandra Dariescu receives its world premiere on Tuesday 19 December 2017. 2021-08-19. www.gsmd.ac.uk. en.
  2. Web site: Alexandra Tănăsescu. 2020-09-30. Alexandra Dariescu: "The younger generation is concerned with fame, Instagram, Youtube, but all that matters is the quality of what you do.". 2021-08-19. Cultura la dubă. en-US.
  3. News: Beale . Robert . RNCM's award-winning graduate Alexandra Dariescu returns to Manchester . 11 January 2019 . Manchester Evening News . 18 Mar 2014.
  4. News: Thompson . Robin . Live Review: Alexandra Dariescu . 11 January 2019 . The Cambridge Student . 26 November 2012.
  5. Web site: Alexandra Dariescu – York Symphony Orchestra. 2021-08-19. en-GB.
  6. News: Robu . Diana . Povestea pianistei Alexandra Dariescu, copilul minune al muzicii internationale . 11 January 2019 . Ziare . 6 June 2013.
  7. Web site: Piano. The Classical. Blog. Music Education. 2012-12-02. Alexandra Dariescu in conversation with Melanie Spanswick. 2021-08-19. Melanie Spanswick. en.
  8. Web site: Alexandra Dariescu Piano. chandos.net. 29 May 2023.
  9. Web site: theatrebath. 2013-04-11. Romanian pianist ALEXANDRA DARIESCU to perform at the Theatre Royal Bath as BATH PHILHARMONIA presents the first of two special concerts. 2021-08-19. Theatre Bath. en-GB.
  10. Web site: artist information - KD Schmid. 2021-08-19. www.kdschmid.de.
  11. Web site: Honorary Associate Artists - Royal Northern College of Music. 2021-08-19. RNCM. en-GB.
  12. Web site: RNCM honours inspirational alumni - Royal Northern College of Music. 2021-08-19. RNCM. en-GB.
  13. Web site: Romanian pianist Alexandra Dariescu's new project carries message for the young. 2021-08-19. Romania Insider. 12 September 2017 . en.
  14. Web site: Alexandra Dariescu performs Guildhall Wigmore Recital Prize recital. 2021-08-19. www.gsmd.ac.uk. en.
  15. Web site: Guildhall Wigmore Recital Prize Guildhall School of Music & Drama. 2021-08-19. www.gsmd.ac.uk.
  16. Web site: Champs Hill Records - Welcome. 2021-08-19. www.champshillrecords.co.uk. en-GB.
  17. Web site: Alumni 16-17 Guildhall School of Music & Drama. 2021-08-19. www.gsmd.ac.uk. en.
  18. Web site: Verbier Festival Academy: Success Stories. 2021-08-19. Verbier Festival. en-US.
  19. Web site: interviews with pianists – Page 16. 2021-08-19. The Cross-Eyed Pianist. en.
  20. Web site: Soirees at Breinton - Alexandra Dariescu, piano. 2021-08-19. www.breinton.com.
  21. Web site: Dariescu. Alexandra. Day 5. 2021-08-19. en.
  22. Web site: Charismatic pianist Alexandra Dăriescu opens the 2012/2013 Enescu Concert Series ICR London. 2021-08-19. www.icr-london.co.uk.
  23. Web site: gwladys. Piano — English. 2021-08-19. www.academie-villecroze.com. en.
  24. News: Fodor. Simona. 12 Sep 2017. Romanian pianist Alexandra Dariescu's new project carries message for the young. Romania Insider. 11 January 2019.
  25. News: VOINESCU. Sever. 12 April 2018. "Ca pianişti, trebuie să ne adaptăm timpului" – interviu cu Alexandra DARIESCU. Dilema Veche. 11 January 2019.
  26. News: Popa Buluc . Magdalena . Pianista Alexandra Dariescu schimbă formatul tradițional de concert cu un concept unic în lume . 11 January 2019 . Cotidianul . 9 June 2018.
  27. News: Une nouvelle image de marque et une nouvelle programmation musicale pour l'Orchestre symphonique de Québec . 11 January 2019 . Magazine Prestige . 29 March 2017.
  28. News: Popa Buluc . Magdalena . Recital de gală susținut de Alexandra Dăriescu la New York . 11 January 2019 . Cotidianul . 12 November 2018.
  29. Web site: BBC Radio 3 - Radio 3 in Concert, The talented Boulanger sisters. BBC. 8 May 2019.
  30. Web site: Johnson. Lottie Elizabeth. 2018-04-18. How her mother's sacrifice helped this Romanian pianist make her Utah Symphony debut. 2021-08-20. Deseret News. en.
  31. Web site: Alexandra Dariescu - Royal Northern College of Music. 2021-08-20. RNCM. en-GB.
  32. Web site: Alexandra Dariescu Archives. 2021-08-22. Signum Records. en-US.
  33. Web site: Pianist Alexandra Dariescu and violinist Ju-Ni Lee. 2021-08-22. Het Concertgebouw. en.
  34. Web site: Dariescu plays Rachmaninov - Events. 2021-08-22. Filharmonia w Szczecinie. en.
  35. Web site: アレクサンドラ・ダリエスク ピアノ・リサイタル 公益財団法人 武蔵野文化事業団. 2021-08-22. www.musashino-culture.or.jp.
  36. News: Schmid. Rebecca. 2016-03-30. Ginastera Centenary Events. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-08-22. 0362-4331.
  37. Web site: Radio Romania Muzical. 2021-08-22. en.romania-muzical.ro.
  38. Web site: ccaspell. Valentine's Day showing of David Lean's Brief Encounter with London Philharmonic Orchestra and Dirk Brossé – Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto played by Alexandra Dariescu. 2021-08-22. The Classical Source. en-GB.
  39. Web site: Dirijorul Cristian Măcelaru revine la pupitrul Orchestrei Naționale Radio – Concert dedicat aniversării Radio România Muzical – 20 de ani – Radio România Cultural. 2021-08-22. en-US.
  40. Web site: Mozart zum Muttertag – Abokonzert Nr. 4 – Zuger Sinfonietta. 2021-08-22. zugersinfonietta.ch. de-DE.
  41. Web site: Paganinin jäljillä. 2021-08-22. www.tampere.fi.
  42. Web site: Alexandra Dariescu to première The Nutcracker and I - Royal Northern College of Music. 2021-08-22. RNCM. en-GB.
  43. Web site: Utah Symphony Announces 2017-18 Season Utah Symphony Utah Opera Shuman Associates. 2021-08-22. www.shumanassociates.net.
  44. Web site: Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto. 2021-08-22. KW Symphony. en-US.
  45. Web site: EUYO. 2021-08-22. www.euyo.eu.
  46. Web site: 2018-03-05. Vienna State Opera 2017-18 Live Stream: Angela Gheorghiu Takes Center Stage in Solo Recital. 2021-08-22. Opera Wire. en-US.
  47. Web site: A deep dive into the work of Nadia and Lili Boulanger. 2021-08-22. bachtrack.com. de.
  48. Web site: Enjoy a creative approach to Enescu and Debussy, with the Orchestre National de France and Alexandra Dariescu, at #EnescuOnline!. 2021-08-22. George Enescu Festival. en-US.
  49. Web site: Yuri Simonov tours the UK with the Moscow Philharmonic. 2021-08-22. Rayfield Allied.
  50. Web site: Alexandra Dariescu. 2021-08-22. www.tonkuenstler.at. en.
  51. Web site: Casse-Noisette et Moi. 2021-08-22. www.4vallees.ch. en.
  52. Web site: ★★★★½ Debussy & Ravel (Sydney Symphony Orchestra). 2021-08-22. Limelight. en-AU.
  53. Web site: Digital. Carter. Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. 2021-08-22. Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. en.
  54. Web site: Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra - Colours of Russia Music Alive. 2021-08-22. RNZ. en-nz.
  55. Web site: Liedrecital Angela Gheorghiu Staatsoper Berlin. 2021-08-22. www.staatsoper-berlin.de.
  56. Web site: French (Teaching) Masters. 2021-08-22. ofo.no. en.
  57. Web site: The Nutcracker – Reimagined. 2021-08-22. www.liverpoolphil.com.
  58. Web site: Mead. David. Preview feature: 'The Nutrcracker and I' by Alexandra Dariescu. 2021-08-22. SeeingDance. en-GB.
  59. Web site: The Nutcracker and I, by Alexandra Dariescu receives its world premiere on Tuesday 19 December 2017. 2021-08-22. www.gsmd.ac.uk. en.
  60. Web site: Alexandra Dariescu. 2021-08-22. Wiener Konzerthaus. en-US.
  61. Web site: www.mir.de. m i r media-interface engineering, cologne-. "Der Nussknacker und ich". 2021-08-22. Philharmonie Luxembourg.
  62. Web site: Casse-Noisette et Moi Auditorium - Orchestre National de Lyon. 2021-08-22. www.auditorium-lyon.com.
  63. Web site: The Nutcracker and I — 2019-01-13 18:00. 2021-08-22. Göteborgs Symfoniker. en-US.
  64. Web site: The Nutcracker and I – Alexandra Dariescu • Family • Kings Place. 2021-08-22. Kings Place. en.
  65. Web site: Soundescapes. 2019-01-03. Behind 'The Nutcracker and I' with Alexandra Dariescu. 2021-08-22. Soundescapes. en.
  66. Web site: The Nutcracker and I. 2021-08-22. Sydney Festival. en.
  67. Web site: The Nutcracker and I. 2021-08-22. www.liverpoolphil.com.
  68. Web site: New 'Nutcracker and I' to merge reality and imagination. 2021-08-22. SHINE. en.
  69. Web site: 'The Nutcracker and I' brings dreams to Dubai Opera. 2021-08-22. gulfnews.com. en.
  70. Web site: Dariescu. Alexandra. Alexandra Dariescu. 2021-08-22. en.
  71. Web site: Review. 2021-08-22. Gramophone. en.
  72. Web site: 2020-08-18. In Conversation with Alexandra Dariescu: Guildhall Creative Entrepreneur. 2021-08-22. Cause4. en.
  73. Web site: News [Opus Klassik gibt Preisträger*innen 2019 bekannt] / MIZ]. 2021-08-22. www.miz.org.
  74. Web site: King Michael I of Romania - 100 years since his birth (talk, photo exhibition & concert) ICR London. 2021-08-22. www.icr-london.co.uk.
  75. Web site: 2021-05-05. TL Competition Round-up 2020/21. 2021-08-22. Trinity Laban. en-US.
  76. Web site: 2021-06-04. Bo Lyu wins Soloists' Competition 2021. 2021-08-22. Trinity Laban. en-US.
  77. Web site: Annual Music Competition. 2021-08-22. Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL). en-gb.
  78. Web site: Alexandra Dariescu. 2021-08-22. Beyond Borders. en-US.
  79. Web site: Stories - Department of Music - University of Liverpool. 2021-08-22. www.liverpool.ac.uk.
  80. Web site: EPIC. European Young Leaders. 2021-08-22. Friends of Europe. en-US.
  81. Web site: Classical:NEXT 2018 Programme Schedule. 2021-08-22. www.classicalnext.com.
  82. Web site: Reflective Conservatoire Conference Guildhall School of Music & Drama. 2021-08-22. www.gsmd.ac.uk.
  83. Web site: Alexandra Dariescu is appointed Patron. 2021-08-22. www.musicinlyddington.co.uk.
  84. Web site: Dariescu. Alexandra. Transylvania Festival. 2021-08-22. en.
  85. Web site: (P) Royal Concert on October 25th at the Romanian Athenaeum. 2021-08-22. Romania Insider. 15 October 2014 . en.
  86. Web site: Plaisir D'amour. 2021-08-22. Decca Records. en.
  87. Web site: Champs Hill Records - Welcome. 2021-08-22. www.champshillrecords.co.uk. en-GB.
  88. Web site: The Nutcracker & I. 2021-08-22. Signum Records. en-US.
  89. Web site: Emily Howard: Magnetite. 2021-08-22. NMC Recordings. en.
  90. Web site: Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 & The Nutcracker Suite. 2021-08-22. Signum Records. en-US.
  91. Web site: Champs Hill Records - Welcome. 2021-08-22. www.champshillrecords.co.uk. en-GB.
  92. Web site: Champs Hill Records - Welcome. 2021-08-22. www.champshillrecords.co.uk. en-GB.
  93. Web site: Champs Hill Records - Welcome. 2021-08-22. www.champshillrecords.co.uk. en-GB.

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