Maksim Mrvica (; born 3 May 1975)
is a Croatian
pianist
A pianist ( , ) is a musician who plays the piano. A pianist's repertoire may include music from a diverse variety of styles, such as traditional classical music, jazz piano, jazz, blues piano, blues, and popular music, including rock music, ...
. He plays
classical crossover
Crossover is a term applied to Musical composition, musical works or performers who appeal to different types of audience, audiences. This can be seen, for example, when a song appears on two or more of the record chart, record charts, which tr ...
music.
Biography
Mrvica was born in
Å ibenik
Å ibenik (), historically known as Sebenico (), is a historic town in Croatia, located in central Dalmatia, where the river Krka (Croatia), Krka flows into the Adriatic Sea. Å ibenik is one of the oldest Croatia, Croatian self-governing cities ...
, Croatia. He took piano lessons at the age of nine.
[Mrvica to dazzle on the ivories]
, ''Taipei Times
The ''Taipei Times'' is an English-language print newspaper in Taiwan published by the Liberty Times Group. Founded as the third English-language newspaper on 15 June 1999, it is currently the last surviving English-language print newspaper i ...
'', April 16, 2004. Retrieved 2011-04-11. Three years later he gave his first concert performance of
Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn ( ; ; 31 March 173231 May 1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. He was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the string quartet and piano trio. His contributions ...
's Piano Concerto in C major. When the Croatian war of independence started in 1991, both Mrvica and his professor were determined that this would not disrupt his music studies. In spite of the war and surrounding turbulence, Mrvica entered in, and won, his first major competition in
Zagreb
Zagreb ( ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, north of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the ...
in 1993.
Mrvica went on to study at the
Music Academy in Zagreb where he spent five years under Professor
Vladimir Krpan,
who himself was a pupil of
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. He then spent a year at the
Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest
and during this year he won first prize at the
Nikolai Rubinstein International Piano Competition. In 2000, he moved to Paris to study with
Igor Lazko and gained first prize in the
Pontoise
Pontoise () is a commune north of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris, in the "new town" of Cergy-Pontoise.
Administration
Pontoise is the official (capital) of the Val-d'Oise '' département'', although in reality the ' ...
Piano Competition in 2001.
International appeal
Mrvica was spotted by
TonÄi Huljić
TonÄi Huljić (; born 29 October 1961) is a Croatian musician, songwriter and music producer. He is best known as the founding member, songwriter and producer of one the most famous Croatian pop music, pop bands, Magazin.
During his career span ...
, who composed several tracks for the crossover string quartet,
Bond, and introduced Mrvica to British
impresario
An impresario (from Italian ''impresa'', 'an enterprise or undertaking') is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, Play (theatre), plays, or operas, performing a role in stage arts that is similar to that of a film producer, film or ...
Mel Bush.
Classics was also interested in Mrvica and soon a new album was underway.
This album was ''
The Piano Player'', which gave a new spin to compositions by
Handel
George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti.
Born in Halle, Germany, H ...
and
Chopin. Since its release in 2003 it has been successful, in Asia, where it has achieved Gold status in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and mainland China, Platinum in Taiwan and Croatia and Double Platinum in Hong Kong.
It was also in the number 1 slot in the HMV international pop chart in Hong Kong for twelve consecutive weeks.
Under Mel Bush's management, Mrvica's performances generally take place against a backdrop of special lighting, stage and video effects.
Mrvica's piece "Exodus" was used as the floor music of Russian artistic gymnast
Anna Pavlova
Anna Pavlovna Pavlova. (born Anna Matveyevna Pavlova; – 23 January 1931) was a Russian prima ballerina. She was a principal artist of the Imperial Russian Ballet and the Ballets Russes of Sergei Diaghilev, but is most recognized for creating ...
in the
2008 Beijing Olympics.
Adaptations and arrangements
There is a Chinese lyrical version added to the non-lyrical song of Maksim Mrvica's "Claudine". This musical piece was sung and written by singer
Edmond Leung
Edmond Leung Hon-man (; born 5 November 1971) is a Hong Kong singer-songwriter, record producer, actor and television host.
Background
Born in British Hong Kong on 5 November 1971, he was a youth development footballer and coach until 17. At a ...
from Hong Kong. According to Boxup.com, Edmond was so captivated by Maksim's performance of "Claudine" that he asked Maksim's permission to do a lyrical version in Cantonese. Soon after in 2004, their collaboration produced the bittersweet ballad called "信望愛" (sun3 mong6 ngoi3) ("Trust Hope Love").
Discography
Albums
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mrvica, Maxim
1975 births
Living people
People from Å ibenik
21st-century Croatian people
21st-century Croatian classical pianists