Ivo Pogorelić facts for kids
Ivo Pogorelić (born October 20, 1958) is a famous Croatian pianist. He is known for his unique way of playing music. Sometimes his performances are different from what people expect. This has made him very popular, but also led to some experts praising him and others criticizing him. He plays music from many different time periods, from the early 1700s to the 1900s.
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Early Life and Music Studies
Ivo Pogorelić was born in Belgrade, which was then part of Yugoslavia. His father was Croatian and his mother was Serbian. After Yugoslavia broke up, he became a Croatian citizen.
He started learning piano when he was seven years old. He went to the Vojislav Vučković Music School in Belgrade. When he was 12, he moved to Moscow to continue his studies. He attended the Central Music School and later the Moscow Conservatory. There, he studied with important teachers like Vera Gornostayeva. In 1976, he began working closely with Alisa Kezheradze, a Georgian pianist and teacher. They were married in 1980. She passed away in 1996.
A Remarkable Musical Journey
Pogorelić won two music competitions early in his career. He won the Casagrande Competition in Italy in 1978. Then, in 1980, he won the Montreal International Musical Competition.
In 1980, he entered the X International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. This competition is very famous. However, he was eliminated in the third round. One of the judges, Martha Argerich, was a very famous pianist herself. She was so upset that she quit the jury. She called Pogorelić a "genius." This caused a big stir in the world of classical music. Other judges also supported her. But some judges felt his playing was too unusual.
After these events, Pogorelić quickly became well-known. He performed his first solo concert in New York City in 1981. He also played in London that same year. Since then, he has performed many concerts around the world. He has played with some of the best orchestras. These include the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra.
In 1982, he started recording music for Deutsche Grammophon. This is a very famous record company. He recorded music by many great composers. These include Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, and Tchaikovsky. He was also the first classical pianist invited to perform in Kuwait.
After his wife passed away in 1996, Pogorelić took a long break from performing. In 2019, he released his first new album in 21 years. It featured piano sonatas by Beethoven and Rachmaninoff.
Helping Young Musicians and Charities
Ivo Pogorelić has also done a lot of work to help others. In 1986, he started a foundation in Yugoslavia. Its goal was to help young musicians from his home country.
In 1988, UNESCO named him an "Ambassador of Goodwill." He was the first classical pianist to receive this honor. This role meant he helped promote peace and understanding through culture.
From 1989 to 1997, he organized the Ivo Pogorelić Festival in Germany. This festival gave young artists a chance to perform with famous musicians. In 1993, he started the "International Solo Piano Competition." This competition helps young musicians start their careers. The first prize was a large amount of money, US$100,000.
He has also used his music to help people in need. In 1994, he set up a foundation to help people in Sarajevo. He organized charity concerts to raise money for medical support. He has also helped raise money for the Red Cross. He supports the fight against serious illnesses like cancer and multiple sclerosis.
Personal Life and Healthy Habits
When he was a child, Pogorelić had chronic rheumatic fever. He also had hepatitis when he was 21. These experiences made him very careful about his health. He follows a special exercise routine. These exercises were created for Russian ballet dancers in the 1920s. He also takes long walks every day. He goes to bed when it gets dark and wakes up early, at 5:30 a.m.
Today, Ivo Pogorelić lives in Lugano, Switzerland.
See also
In Spanish: Ivo Pogorelich para niños
