Russian to the core

Young and talented, Evgeny Sudbin is dazzling audiences from the United States to Europe. Critics consider him as one of the Piano world's most exciting young talents. Despite spending most of his life abroad, he still thinks of himself as Russian.

At 26, Evgeny Sudbin is already hailed as potentially one of the greatest pianists of the XXI century. “Fingers of steel and a heart of gold” – say the critics, prophesying that Evgeny Sudbin has an outstanding future.

His debut disc, a Scarlatti recital, received rave reviews, securing him an exclusive 5-year recording contract from the BIS label. He's also scooped an ‘Editor’s Choice’ recommendation from Gramophone magazine. His second recording – a Rachmaninov recital, has been greeted with similar rapture.

His studies, performances and competition schedules have taken him throughout the UK, Europe and North America.

Most young pianists would be walking on air after such reviews. But Evgeny feels really uneasy in the face of so much praise. “I have played the piano for as long as I can remember – since I was 4 or 5 – because my parents were musicians and so I was always growing up with the instrument and as far as I can remember I played the piano. But then it gradually became my career, I don’t know when. Of course, I studied the piano and then now it’s my work. Nothing really has changed much since,” says Evgeny.

Born in Russia’s Northern capital – St. Petersburg – in 1980, Evgeny Sudbin showed exceptional musical talent from an early age. By the age of 10 he had already won his first international piano competition.

But then he left Russia with his parents. He wasn’t sure whether he would play or even see a piano again. But piano-playing appears to be his destiny. After several years of studying in Germany “The most promising virtuoso of his generation” moved to London to pursue his career. But he still feels Russian to the core. “Despite the fact that I haven’t really been back for a very long time, I‘ve been back twice now in 15 years, and those 2 times  I felt a strong connection. Although things have changed a lot, I mean the first 10 years of your life are very important. This is where you personality is established, and I certainly. A big part of me is Russian and will always be Russian. That will never change.”

Bryce Morrison, who’s considered among the world’s foremost authorities on piano performances, says Evgeny's inspirational performances are about more than just talent.

“I think he is very exciting and the recordings have been extraordinary. They’ve been a colossal success worldwide – to make that sort of hit now when there are so many people around – it’s very important – and he is something special – it’s not easy to define – but the audiences hear it. It’s very musical – very poetic – he has such a strong feeling for whatever he plays!” he says.

2006 has been another successful year for Evgeni Sudbin. He has even been on the cover of Gramophone magazine as one of “Tomorrow’s Classical Superstars”. Well, all the future superstar says he needs for him to be happy is to carry on recording CDs and playing concerts. But he also would like more time in his busy schedule to pursue other interests. Those are the wishes that he hopes will come true in 2007.