Polish pianist Rafal Blechacz plays a program full of beauty, with Vancouver Chopin Society March 13
Alongside pieces from the group’s namesake, celebrated artist performs Mozart, Debussy, and Szymanowski
Rafal Blechacz
Vancouver Chopin Society presents Rafal Blechacz at the Vancouver Playhouse on March 13 at 7:30 pm
BORN IN THE small town of Nakło nad Notecią in northern Poland, pianist Rafal Blechacz went on to win the prestigious 2005 International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw—becoming the first Polish musician to receive the prize in 30 years. He’s gone on to sell a platinum record in his home country (of Chopin’s Preludes), to win awards by Germany’s Echo Klassik and France’s Diapason d’Or, and to record a dozen universally acclaimed albums.
Devoted entirely to Chopin, Blechacz's latest release interprets the gorgeous piano sonatas Nocturne Op. 48 No. 2 and Barcarolle Op. 60, a program he’s played all over the globe.
This week, the Deutsche Grammophon artist returns to the Vancouver Chopin Society, where there will be an array of work by the group’s namesake: Polonaise Fantasy, Op. 61; Nocturne, Op. 55 No. 1; and Mazurkas, Op. 6.
The evening also includes a serene mix of Mozart’s Sonata in A Major, Debussy’s transcendent Suite Bergamasque, and Polish modernist composer Karol Szymanowski’s Variations.
It's a knockout combination, full of beauty—and a concert piano fans will want to swoon in. ![]()
Related Articles
The rapper and singer performs at Alliance Française Vancouver’s annual Fête de la Musique, alongside Kaya Ko, Alpha Yaya Diallo, Phantom Jungle, and many other eclectic acts
At this year’s Vancouver International Jazz Festival, the two acclaimed trumpeters find unique ways of expressing the legend’s enduring influence
Marquee Series concert showcases the tenor saxophonist’s sonic innovation and Chicago roots, in homage to a true legend
Intriguing programming ranges from majestic Holst and Berlioz to a contemporary work dedicated to craft brews, plus a beachfront finale
The choir, which has shared stages with international superstars Alicia Keys and Chris Martin, closes its season with a concert titled Songs of Resilience
After a cancer diagnosis, the former CEO left the corporate world and finally fulfilled his lifelong dream of playing his favourite musical instrument
Joined by his ensemble, the expressive artist pairs songs off his latest album with music inspired by his involvement in a Miles Davis biopic
The festival will include the premiere of Imant Raminsh’s Where Wildness Lives, a choral work dedicated to the artistic director’s late father
Taking place at Canadian Memorial United Church, the event celebrates the strength cultivated through community
Lineup spans indie-rock band Grade School, rap artist Missy D, the Cedar & Sage Dancers, and beyond
Outdoor show on July 25, part of the larger fest, also features Big Rig and DJ Jody Glenham
Programming spans ticketed concerts, an outdoor community performance, masterclasses, and more
Marquee Series act is known for its ’70s-punk roots and ever-evolving sound
Taking place in the state-of-the-art Rock Theatre, program features the Borealis String Quartet, Juno Award–winning Gryphon Trio, and more
Otto Tausk conducts the orchestra, along with mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb and the Vancouver Bach Choir, in a symphony that has a lot of everything
Finale of the storied UBC venue’s 100th-anniversary celebrations features celebrated soprano Simone Osborne and bass-baritone Gordon Bintner
New York–based multi-instrumentalist, the child of legendary saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, is joined by their band and the Todd Stewart Trio
Performers at the 2026 edition include Uncle Strut, Felisha and the Jazz Rejects, Art d’Ecco, Brass Camel, Rich Hope, and many more
Artists hitting Jericho Beach Park range from Denmark’s Tina Dico and Ukraine’s Yagódy to Portland’s Anna Tivel and Jeffrey Martin
Event’s top works from across the country and the globe leap between juggling, circus, art installation, concert, and more
Artist Jasmine Chen relearns Mandarin and discovers lost family history in multidisciplinary, personal show
Reports are emerging that the musician, composer, and pillar of the Indigenous classical community passed away in car accident after father’s funeral in Northern Alberta
Genre-spanning national and local talents take to North Shore venues in presentation by BlueShore at CapU and Vancouver International Jazz Festival
Annual celebration’s main-stage offerings open with Métis fiddler Brianna Lizotte and close with Chicago’s LowDown Brass Band
Ema Nikolovska pairs with guitarist Sean Shibe, violist Timothy Ridout with pianist Federico Colli in a season that spans accordions, folk ensembles, and cellos
Guest conductor Peter Oundjian and pianist Simon Trpčeski are featured in program of works by Modest Mussorgsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and U.S. composer Joan Tower
Edmonton’s Chronos Vocal Ensemble and Calgary’s Luminous Voices add vocal power to a program that’s strong on contemporary composers
The French accordionist and the Senegalese singer and kora player began their joint musical adventure thanks to a “slightly mad request”
This year’s picks include old-school country, introspective singer-songwriters, voodoo-infused ritual, and one U.K. legend who really needs no introduction
At the special celebration, Choral Canada and the BC Choral Federation host eight feature concerts and two free events
