MALAYSIAN prodigy and piano virtuoso, Tengku Irfan, returns to Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) at Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) for another set of inspiring concerts, titled Beethoven’s Emperor, with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO).
The 19-year-old wonder will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, a grandeur work nicknamed Emperor. It is the last of Beethoven’s five piano concertos, which premiered in Leipzig, Germany, in 1811.
Tengku Irfan, who enth-ralled audiences with his brilliant improvisation of cadenzas in his debut concerts with the MPO in 2009, has since achieved the impossible, by becoming a prize winner at the Aspen Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2 Competition, the ASCAP Charlotte Bergen and ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer awards.
He has collaborated with orchestras, such as the Sao Paulo State Youth Orchestra, Juilliard Orchestra and Estonian National Symphony, and performed with classical music luminaries, like Neeme Järvi, Nikolai Alexeev, Evan Rogister, Claudio Cruz and Darrell Ang.
This will be Tengku Irfan’s 10th collaboration with the MPO after concerts on the DFP stage in 2009, 2011 (twice), 2013, 2015 and last year, and tours to Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi in 2013.
The MPO had premiered his award-winning composition Sahibul Hikayat Fantasy Overture at DFP. His orchestral piece, Keraian, was premiered by the New York Philharmonic and his choral piece, Tragedi Dewi Suria, was premiered by New York Virtuoso Singers.
Kristjan Järvi and the MDR Sinfonie-orchester commissioned Tengku Irfan to compose Vivacity, which premiered at Leipzig Gewandha-us last year.
Described by The New York Times as “eminently cultured” and possessing “sheer incisiveness and power”, Tengku Irfan is studying at The Juilliard School with a double major in Piano and Composition.
The Beethoven’s Emperor concerts is held today and tomorrow at 8.30pm, with an additional 3pm show on Sunday. Tickets are priced at RM60, RM90, RM120 and RM150.
For more information, call 03-23317007 or email boxoffice@dfp.com.my.
You may also visit www.mpo.com.my, Facebook: fb.mpo.com.my or Instagram: @malaysianphilharmonicorchestra.