In Memory: Concert Pianist and Professor of Music *Master Instructor
Founding board member, beloved piano virtuoso and instructor, and important mentor and friend to Susanna Barasch, we will all sadly miss Maestro Konstantinov, who lost his battle with cancer in March of 2016. Prize-winner of important competitions, Tzvetan Konstantinov enjoyed a successful performing career as recitalist, soloist with orchestras, chamber musician, and recording artist. Critics described Professor Konstantinov as an "astonishing pianist” (Suddeutsche Zeitung, Munich, Germany) and his unique artistry as an "explosive performance of virtuosity” (Schwabisches Tagblatt). Reviewers in the "Washington Post", Washington, D.C. have written about the internationally acclaimed artist, of his above reproach technique, the enchanting sensitivity of his shading and crystalline clarity of his playing.
Professor Konstantinov performed in music centers throughout the world, including Musikverein, The Grand Hall Bulgaria, The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Strathmore, De Doelen, Meany Hall, the Barns at Wolf Trap, National Aquarium in Baltimore, and the Cleveland Museum of Art in the United States to name a few. He also performed repeatedly in many parts of the world including Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Montenegro, The Netherlands, The Philippines, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Professor Konstantinov has appeared frequently on radio and television, such as: WGMS' Spotlight, WETA's Capital Concerts and VOA. The Bulgarian National Television has repeatedly broadcasted exclusive documentaries on the artist and one of the largest Bulgarian daily newspapers, Democracy, has published exclusives interview.
The Bulgarian virtuoso's use of rubato was best described by the press as "novel and unusual". The world-renowned American pianist GRANT JOHANNESEN has called him "Pianist with exceptional gifts". The legendary virtuoso SHURA CHERKASSKY found him "Extremely talented and command pianistically". A world class pianist himself, Konstantinov's many mentors and teachers included some of the greatest pianists of all times: SVIATOSLAV RICHTER, ARTURO BENEDETTI MICHELANGELI, RUDOLF KEHRER, SHURA CHERKASSKY, ALEXIS WEISSENBERG, VELICHKA SAVOVA (WELLA SAWOWA), GRANT JOHANNESEN, BELLA DAVIDOVICH, TATIANA NIKOLAEVA, GRIGORY KOGAN and EUGENE MALININ. Professor Konstantinov was a student of Velichka Savova, in the tradition of Leopold Godowsky.
Versed in seven languages and highly valued as a teacher, his students came from all over the world and won numerous international competitions. Professor Konstantinov has served as a board member of the Metropolitan Chorus, the M Institute for the Arts, and is an Artistic Advisor to Washington International Piano Arts Council. He is a co-founder and director of the International Master Institute of Music “Leopold Godowsky.”
Languages: Bularian, English, French, German, Italian, Macedonian, Russian