Zlata Chochieva to Continue Presidential Concert Series
The Lee University Presidential Concert Series will continue with award-winning pianist Zlata Chochieva on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in Squires Recital Hall.
Known for her highly praised recordings of Chopin and Rachmaninov, Chochieva has been involved in music since her first stage appearance at the age of four. Her sensational recording of the Chopin Etudes has been acclaimed by critic Jeremy Nicholas of Gramophone as “one of the most consistently inspired, masterfully executed, and beautiful-sounding versions I can recall.”
Since her early start to music and her first orchestral debut at seven, she has given concerts in Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Philharmonie de Paris, Wigmore Hall, Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Victoria Hall in Geneva, Tivoli Concert Hall in Copenhagen, the Grand Hall of Moscow Conservatory, and Taiwan’s National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts. She has performed with numerous orchestras, including Russian National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Copenhagen Philharmonic, Munich Chamber Orchestra, and Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice.
“We’re in for a special treat when Ms. Chochieva comes to town,” says Darlia Conn, director of Lee’s Presidential Concert Series. “Our most trusted agent in New York, who has sent us many artists over the years, almost never personally endorses anyone, but this was an exception. Over a year ago, he called us to say, ‘there’s a young Russian pianist who is absolutely phenomenal, and she will be touring the U.S. in 2024. I thought I would give you a call, because she is truly special, and if you have a chance to book her, it’s someone you don’t want to miss.’”
Recording exclusively for Naïve Records, her most recent release “Im freien,” was selected by Gramophone as an “Editor’s Choice” in June 2023. Her first recording for Naïve, “Chiaroscuro,” was crowned a Critic’s Choice in International Piano Magazine. Her “(re)creations” disc, recorded during the pandemic on Accentus, won a prestigious German Record Critics’ Award.
A protege of Mikhail Pletnev at Central Special Music School, Chochieva also studied with Pavel Nersessian at Moscow State Conservatory. She completed her studies at Mozarteum University of Salzburg with Jacques Rouvier. In 2018, she established the International Festival at Rachmaninov’s estate in lvanovka and now serves as its director.
“This concert will be in the smaller, intimate setting of Squires Hall,” said Conn. “We schedule Presidential Concerts there only about once a year. People love this venue because the connection between the artist and the audience feels so personal in Squires. I believe this will be such a memorable evening of beautiful music.”
Squires Hall is located in the Humanities Center on Paul Conn Parkway. Designated parking will be available for the event.
Tickets for the Presidential Concert are $15 for adults and $5 for students, seniors, and children. Tickets are available for purchase on eventbrite.com/, at the Lee University Box Office in the Dixon Center, or by contacting (423) 614-8343, beginning January 30.
For more information on the Presidential Concert Series, visit leeuniversity.edu/academics/music/pcs/ or call the School of Music at (423) 614-8240.
