Known as a phenomenon both in his native country of Macedonia and increasingly around the globe, pianist Simon Trpčeski makes his third appearance with the San Francisco Symphony on April 1-3, performing the Grieg Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 16. On the podium will be his favorite collaborator, conductor Vasily Petrenko, with whom he has just released his latest CD in a series of Rachmaninov complete piano concerts.
Could you tell us a bit about your childhood and how you came to be interested in music?
I consider myself a very normal human being, coming from a very normal family. I was born in the capital of Skopje, in the small country of Macedonia, and showed my interest for music as a young child. My father bought a small accordion for me when I was 3 years old and it seemed to somehow come naturally. I grew up in modest surroundings but in a large and warm family with a huge circle of friends, singing and dancing a lot, typical of the Macedonian folk heritage.
What about university? You studied at the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje and are on the faculty there now.
My teachers, Ljudmila Romanova and Boris Romanov, came to Skopje from Moscow right at the crash of the former Yugoslavia and the former Soviet Union, which was quite welcome for the piano school at Skopje. Macedonia didn’t have a very big tradition of classical music, although it started to develop there from the 1940s after the war. But I’m very proud that I got my education in Skopje. I was quite happy to be there at home, close to the family, and get a really high-level education.
How did the politics of the day affect your career?
I grew up in a very difficult period because, after Yugoslavia crashed, Macedonia went into a bad transition period of about 20 years, which is still ongoing. It was hard to get visas to leave the country, and only through the incredible efforts of my parents was I able to leave to enter competitions and get some international experience, to judge my level. In 2000 I got the prize in London and my career started. [Trpčeski won the London International Piano Competition in 2000; he was a member of the BBC New Generation Scheme from 2001 to 2003, and in 2003 was awarded the Young Artist Award by the Royal Philharmonic Society.] A lot of people can’t imagine living in such limited surroundings, but on the other hand the spirit of the people is so amazing and warm. I guess in life there is a balance between something you lose and something you gain.
Romantic repertoire seems to be your choice. How does it speak to you?
I am a romantic person, and, being a Slav, Romantic music is close to my heart. On the other hand, as a student I had to start with Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven. I was always taught to find myself in any piece that I play. I don’t associate with certain periods in musical history; rather, I feel happier with a variety of composers because that builds my musical personality.
How did your collaboration with Vasily Petrenko begin?
Listen to the Music
Finale: Alla breve
In 2007 I was invited to perform with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, where he had just become the conductor. When we met to discuss the music, I really liked his wonderful sense of humor and authority. Somehow, we got on together like we had known each other for a long time. This is his debut with the San Francisco Symphony, and I do believe they will find him very interesting. He works very calmly with a clear vision of what he wants. I believe he’ll come back to San Francisco because he deserves it; he’ll be legendary in this generation of conductors.
In an interview from early 2006, you remarked that you were doing 35 to 40 concerts a year and said you didn’t “want to spend your life in airplanes and hotels.” How has that changed since then?
The number of concerts has increased maybe 10 or 15. But I certainly don’t play as much as some of my colleagues, who play hundreds per year. I don’t understand how they do it; you don’t have time for anything else! I’m careful with the number, because one has to enjoy everyday life in order to deliver something on stage. It’s just crazy otherwise.
Do you have a family of your own?
I have a 3½-month-old daughter, Lara, and my wife, Daniella. It’s nice to share moments in life with those closest to you.
Do people recognize you on the streets in Macedonia as they would a football star?
Something like that [laughs]. It’s a small country, and having this kind of career as a classical musician is a rare thing. Coming from a country of two million, it’s possible for everyone to know your name. They are proud of a positive example from their own country. I play as often as I can here. I did a recital tour inland recently, and I invite local musicians and my students to play with me. People appreciate that very much.