'Sublime’ pianist makes Welsh debut

A rising star on the Parisian music scene, Ivan’s 13-date tour, which begins in Penarth’s Paget Rooms on February 14, will take in a number of smaller community venues, as well as the grand environs of the Wales Millennium Centre, as part of the Arts Council for Wales’ Night Out scheme.

The 28-year-old performer, who studied music and mathematics at the world famous University of California, Berkeley, has prepared a programme of classical favourites for the tour, including solo works by Handel, Brahms, Liszt and Debussy.

Ivan will also be performing ‘Endless Song’ by the Welsh composer John Metcalf, and premiering a piece written for him by the young American composer Reynold Tharp at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.

“When touring Scotland last year,” says Ivan, “I stayed with the composer John Hearne who did his doctorate at the University of Aberystwyth. While driving me to a concert he described the scenery on the west coast of Wales.

“I looked into it and saw some intriguing opportunities. The friendliness of the people I spoke with and their enthusiasm were also significant factors. What was originally a 4-5 date tour has become, with their suggestions, 20 concerts over four trips! (Ivan will be back in Wales in October)

“The future of classical music in Wales looks bright… And I plan to be a part of it.”

Ilic has Serbian parents who moved to the United States to pursue graduate studies, and Ivan was born and raised in California. He began piano lessons at age of six and gave his recital debut at 11. After studies at Berkeley, he left for Paris with a Fellowship from the university and has been based there ever since.

Admitted to the esteemed Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris, where he took a Premier Prix in piano performance, Ivan’s reputation was further bolstered by a Diplôme à l’Unanimité from the École Normale. At age 20 he launched a solo recital career that has seen him tour and record throughout Europe and America.

Performing live is Ivan’s great passion and is the reason why he practices all day, every day.

“Hearing a piece of music performed live makes a huge difference – you just don’t get the same experience from a recording,” he explains. “I can remember every piece of new music I have heard live from the last 10 years, because the music makes so much more of an impression when I hear it live.”

Ivan’s tour dates:
Feb 14: Paget Rooms, Penarth, £5/4, 7.30pm, 029 2070 9168
Feb 15: Merthyr Tydfil College Theatre, Merthyr Tydfil, £5, 7.30pm, 01685 726007
Feb 16: Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, Free, 1pm, 029 2063 4637
Feb 21: West Wales Arts Centre, Fishguard, £22 (inc dinner), 7pm, 01348 873867
Feb 22: Theatre Eli, Llanelli, £8.50/7, 7.30pm, 01685 726007, ext 4
Feb 23: Neuadd Dyfi, Aberdyfi, £4/2, 7.30pm, 01654 767225
Feb 24: Y Ganolfan, Abergynolwyn, £5, 7.30pm, 01654 782644
Feb 25: The Dragon Theatre, Barmouth, £5, 7.30pm, 01341 280392
March 2: Stiwt Theatre, Wrexham, £9/7, 7.30pm, 01978 841300
March 29: St Arvans Church, Chepstow, £9/5, 7.30pm, 01291 622064
March 30: St Annes Church, Ynyshir, £3/2.50, 7pm, 01443 684148
April 1: Caldicot Comprehensive School, Caldicot, £5.50/5, 3pm, 01291 424436
April 8: Theatr Ardudwy, Harlech, £10/8, 7.30pm, 01766 780667

For more information on Ivan, including full biog, downloadable images, interview and tour dates, log onto www.ivancdg.com
Press enquiries, interview requests and review tickets, please contact Jo Manning jo_manning77@yahoo.co.uk / 07881 915803

Notes to editors

• Night Out is an Arts Council of Wales scheme that helps local organisations to bring professional performances into community buildings at subsidised prices.
• Night Out has already helped thousands of performances in hundreds of venues.
• For more information on the Night Out scheme, log on to http://www.nightout.org.uk