Reinmar Wagner / bz Basel / 28.01.2024
Reinmar Wagner / bz Basel / 28.01.2024
Andriy Dragan
The subtle touch
The Swiss-Ukrainian pianist Andriy Dragan, who is based in Basel, regularly performs in Switzerland and Europe. As an inquisitive pianist, Andriy Dragan inspires audiences with new projects and an extended repertoire, including works by Franz Xaver Mozart alongside with the Ukrainian composers of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Andriy Dragan proves this remarcably with his albums published by Claves Verlag and dedicated to F.X. Mozart – in 2021 the Variations and in 2024 the Piano Concerto recorded with the Musikkollegium Winterthur.
Born in Ukraine into the musical family of Oksana Rapita and Myroslav Dragan, Andriy began his pianistic path in Lviv at the age of 6 at the Music Boarding School and later at the National Music Academy. His talent was recognized and encouraged from an early age by Professor Lidia Krych. At the age of 17, Andriy continued his studies at the Basel Music Academy by Professor Adrian Oetiker, where he successfully prepared for his future career as a concert pianist.
The numerous competition successes accomplished at times of studies, in particular the Prix Credit Suisse Jeune Solistes and Kiefer-Hablitzel
Competition opened for Andriy Dragan the doors to the prominent concert halls worldwide. These include performances at renowned festivals, such as Lucerne Festival, Verbier Festival, Gstaad Menuhin Festival, Zaubersee Festival Lucerne, Zermatt Music Festival, Bergen Festival, Rheingau Music Festival, Schloss Elmau, La Roque d’Anthéron, Festival d’Auvers-sur-Oise, Contrasts and Virtuoso Festivals in Lviv, as well as performances with the Munich Radio Orchestra, Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, Basel Symphony Orchestra, Musikkollegium Winterthur, Zermatt Festival Orchestra with Scharoun Ensembles of the Berlin Philharmonic, MDR Symphony Orchestra at the Gewandhaus Leipzig and INSO Lviv Orchestra.
Andriy Dragan also performs regularly in chamber music formations, in particular with the Trio Barvinsky, which he co-founded in 2018 with Vasyl Zatsikha and Alessio Pianelli.
Andriy Dragan’s intrepid and nuanced playing immerses listeners in a subtle and refined world of sound. His virtuosity always remains in service of music.
The Swiss-Ukrainian pianist Andriy Dragan, who is based in Basel, regularly performs in Switzerland and Europe. As an inquisitive pianist, Andriy Dragan inspires audiences with new projects and an extended repertoire, including works by Franz Xaver Mozart alongside with the Ukrainian composers of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Andriy Dragan proves this remarcably with his albums published by Claves Verlag and dedicated to F.X. Mozart – in 2021 the Variations and in 2024 the Piano Concerto recorded with the Musikkollegium Winterthur.
Born in Ukraine into the musical family of Oksana Rapita and Myroslav Dragan, Andriy began his pianistic path in Lviv at the age of 6 at the Music Boarding School and later at the National Music Academy. His talent was recognized and encouraged from an early age by Professor Lidia Krych. At the age of 17, Andriy continued his studies at the Basel Music Academy by Professor Adrian Oetiker, where he successfully prepared for his future career as a concert pianist.
The numerous competition successes accomplished at times of studies, in particular the Prix Credit Suisse Jeune Solistes and Kiefer-Hablitzel
Competition opened for Andriy Dragan the doors to the prominent concert halls worldwide. These include performances at renowned festivals, such as Lucerne Festival, Verbier Festival, Gstaad Menuhin Festival, Zaubersee Festival Lucerne, Zermatt Music Festival, Bergen Festival, Rheingau Music Festival, Schloss Elmau, La Roque d’Anthéron, Festival d’Auvers-sur-Oise, Contrasts and Virtuoso Festivals in Lviv, as well as performances with the Munich Radio Orchestra, Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, Basel Symphony Orchestra, Musikkollegium Winterthur, Zermatt Festival Orchestra with Scharoun Ensembles of the Berlin Philharmonic, MDR Symphony Orchestra at the Gewandhaus Leipzig and INSO Lviv Orchestra.
Andriy Dragan also performs regularly in chamber music formations, in particular with the Trio Barvinsky, which he co-founded in 2018 with Vasyl Zatsikha and Alessio Pianelli.
Andriy Dragan’s intrepid and nuanced playing immerses listeners in a subtle and refined world of sound. His virtuosity always remains in service of music.
Franz Xaver Mozart Project
Already at an early stage in my career as a pianist, I felt a special connection to the compositions of Franz Xaver Mozart. It was his 1st Piano Concerto that I performed during my first orchestral performance abroad at the age of 13, that took place in Switzerland, accompanied by the INSO Lviv Orchestra. His music touched my soul and continues to inspire me to this day. After graduating, I delved into researching Franz Xaver Mozart’s work and discovered many precious gems that not only have musical value but also historical significance and a personal geographic context. After all, his work in Galicia for around 30 years has had a lasting impact on the multicultural life of the region up to the present day. I am convinced that his legacy has not yet been fully explored, which motivates me to continue my research.
Franz Xaver Mozart’s music has been part of my concert programs for some time now. The question may be raised here as to why such masterpieces, particularly the 2nd Piano Concerto, have not yet become part of the “standard repertoire.” This is probably primarily due to the “myth” of his famous father, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, but presumably also to the lack of orchestral material. The latter was revised and completed by Gunhard Mattes Verlag and myself personally.
With the development of this Franz Xaver Mozart project, may his music step out of the shadow of his father and the great master Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and receive the recognition it deserves.
Andriy Dragan
Piano concertos
The recording of the piano concertos with the Musikkollegium Winterthur was presented on May 10, 2024 and is available from Claves Records.
Variations
This debut CD was published by Claves Label in 2021 as a musical hommage to F.X.Mozart’s 230th birth anniversary.
Barvinsky Piano Trio
The idea of founding a trio fascinated us since many years. Playing together since beginning of 2018 has been a great motivation and inspiration for the development of our ensemble as well as our personal growth. Already in the first rehearsals we were able to understand each other without words and communicate directly through music. It didn’t take long, before we got our first concert engagements. The first critics were very positive. We enjoyed very much being together on stage and we are looking forward to our upcoming concert in Switzerland and in Ukraine.
As for the name of our trio, we are very inspired by the music and personality of one of the leading composers of Ukraine in the 20th century Vasyl Barvinsky. We are proud to name our ensemble after him.
Press
Awards
Prix Credit Suisse
Jeunes Solistes
1st prize
Kiefer-Hablitzel-Stiftung
Prix Collard
Kiefer-Hablitzel-Stiftung