PORT ANGELES — Spanish-born and internationally known pianist Josu de Solaun has just been added to the Port Angeles Symphony’s Feb. 22 concert.
De Solaun will join the full orchestra to perform Franz Liszt’s famed Piano Concertos No. 1 and No. 2 at the Port Angeles High School Performing Arts Center, 304 E. Park Ave. He replaces previously scheduled violin soloist Jesús Reina, who had to cancel his appearance.
“I love Port Angeles. I love the Olympic Peninsula. I was completely taken with the epic landscape,” said the pianist, who’s in the midst of scheduling performances across the United States and Europe.
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De Solaun has won first prize in the George Enescu International Piano Competition in Bucharest, Romania, and the first European Union Piano Competition in Prague, Czech Republic, among others.
A longtime artistic partner and friend of Port Angeles Symphony music director and conductor Jonathan Pasternack, he has twice joined the orchestra here: in spring 2016 when he performed Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and in fall 2018 when he played Liszt’s “Totentanz” and Richard Strauss’ “Burleske.”
Wowed by his “Rach 3,” followed by two encores, fellow pianist Linda Dowdell called de Solaun one of the most generous performers she’s ever seen. Pasternack, for his part, added that de Solaun has a penchant for choosing some of the most challenging classical works of all time.
Last year, de Solaun and Pasternack collaborated in Europe, performing together as guests of three orchestras in Romania.
And this March, pianist and conductor will travel to the Czech Republic to collaborate with the Moravian Philharmonic on an album of Lizst’s masterpieces. The CD, recorded in the grand concert hall there, will be available on the Melos label later this year.
For more about de Solaun’s forthcoming concert with the Port Angeles Symphony — as part of its 87th season — visit PortAngelesSymphony.org, phone the office at 360-457-5579 or email PASymphony@olypen.com.
More about the soloist awaits at JosudeSolaun.com.