American pianist Andrew Tyson performed on Monday, 24th August in the Rector's palace atrium, for the first time at the 66th Dubrovnik summer festival. He played Gershwin's Rhapsody in blue in transcription for piano solo, Ravel's Mirrors, Barber's ''Excursions’’ for piano and Skrjabin’s nine etudes.
Although he didn't enter his third decade of life, Andrew Tyson is already a very well known name on the world music scene whose value was recognised by the festival audience. Due to a great audience interest the concert was moved from Sponza palace to the Rector's palace. Tyson, hailed by BBC Radio 3 as “a real poet of the piano,” is consistently recognized for his commanding and expressive performances, replete with imaginative interpretations and exceptional artistry.
He earned his Master’s degree and Artist Diploma at The Julliard School with Robert McDonald and today performs throughout the United States and Europe. He is a laureate of the Queen Elisabeth Competition and winner of numerous awards at piano competitions which include the Avery Fisher Career Grant prize, the Terence Judd - Hallé Orchestra prize and the Arthur Rubinstein prize. A month ago, at the Géza Anda Competition in Switzerland, he won first jury prize, audience prize and the award for best Mozart's concert.
He is about to play 200 concerts in the next 3 years. The festival audience can only hope that Tyson will find time in that period for a second performance in Dubrovnik.