Mahan Esfahani / Harpsichord

The Pharos Arts Foundation continues its Concert and Recital Series with a harpsichord recital by Mahan Esfahani, praised by The Times as ‘exceptionally gifted’ and by Early Music Today for his ‘sensitivity and vibrance’. The recital will take place on Wednesday 25 April 2012, at The Shoe Factory, Nicosia / 8:30. Esfahani will perform a Baroque programme by William Byrd, Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann Sebastian Bach and Domenico Scarlatti.

“…the brilliance and artistry of Mahan Esfahani, who, despite his young age, played with the musicality and virtuosity of a master.” Keyboard Magazine

Praised by The Times as ‘exceptionally gifted’ and by Early Music Today for his ‘sensitivity and vibrance,’ the Iranian born Mahan Esfahani (b. 1984) is quickly establishing himself as the leading concert harpsichordist of his generation. He was the first harpsichordist to be named a BBC New Generation Artist and to be awarded a fellowship prize by the Borletti-Buitoni Trust.

Recent highlights have included performances of Kalabis’ Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra (1975) with the BBC Concert Orchestra, Martinu’s Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra (1935) with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Jiri Belohlavek, and Poulenc’s Concert Champetre (1928) with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Last season, Esfahani also gave his solo debut at the Wigmore Hall (broadcast on BBC Radio 3) – about which the Daily Telegraph exclaimed, “The harpsichord comes out of hiding…magnificent” – and appeared at the City of London and York Early Music Festivals. In addition, Esfahani’s recording of the Poulenc concert was selected as a CD of the month for the May 2010 issue of BBC Music Magazine, and he has been featured as a “Hot Property” by Classic FM magazine.

Recent engagements this season include an appearance at the Wigmore Hall with the countertenor James Bowman, and directing the Manchester Camerata, the Arion Baroque Orchestra (Montreal), and The English Concert at the 2011 Lufthansa Festival. Furthermore, Mahan Esfahani has returned to the United States for solo recitals and made his concerto debut in the Far East with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra in March 2011.

As a soloist and guest director, Esfahani has appeared with The English Concert, the Manchester Camerata, and the Seattle Baroque Orchestra; His series and festival appearances include the
BBC Proms, Tage Alter Musik Regensburg, the Goettingen Handel Festival, the Settimana Mozart of Milan, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and the San Francisco Early Music Society.

Mahan Esfahani studied as a President’s Scholar at Stanford University where his principal mentor was the musicologist George Houle; he went on to pursue his performance studies under the supervision of the Australian harpsichordist Peter Watchorn (Boston) and the Italian organist Lorenzo Ghielmi (Milan) before settling in the United Kingdom in as Artist-in-Residence at New College, Oxford. In the autumn of 2010, he was further elected an honourary member of Keble College, Oxford.

Programme:
William Byrd (c. 1540-1623) Praeludium (MB 12)
Dietrich Buxtehude (1653-1707) Toccata in G
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Partita V in G, BWV 829
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1759) 8 Sonate per Clavicembalo

Ticket Prices:
Adults: EUR25
Friends and Supporters of the Pharos Arts Foundation / Concessions: EUR20

Box Office: Tel: 7000 9304 - opening hours: 9.30 am - 11.30 am / www.pharostickets.org