Pianist Teo Gherghiu - the Roots album - CD Review, February 3^rd 2023

George Enescu - Romanian Rhapsody no. 1in A major, op. 11; Béla Bartók - Six Romanian Folk Dances; Modest Musorgsky - selections from the suite Pictures at an Exhibition.

Pianist Teo Gheorghiu always captivates the public and international critics with his special projects that expres a creativity, a distinctive interpretative style, based on in-depth knowledge of the philosophical valences behind the scores approached. On December 9^th, 2022, the musician of Romanian origin released a new album - on the Swiss label Claves Records. Dedicated to Romanian music, the CD is called Roots and reflects the musician's attachment to his home country. The program includes the Romanian Rhapsody in A major by George Enescu and Romanian Folk Dances by Béla Bartók, as well as the well-known suite Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Musorgski, ending with a piece by the Greek-Armenian composer and philosopher George Gurdjieff.

We had the chance to listen to Teo Gheorghiu in a concert at Sala Radio on December 23^rd, where he was accompanied by the National Radio Orchestra. On that occasion, the musician spoke to Radio România Muzical about his new album in an interview, and I quote: " The Roots album is inspired by my musical and personal roots. Rhapsody No.1 by Enescu is a piece that I first heard here in Bucharest, when I performed at the Enescu Festival. I told myself that I have to interpret this piece somehow. I saw that Enescu made a transcription for solo piano and I tried to figure out how I could play it. It's made for three hands, no two... I worked on it and succeed. I experience a little bit of Romania when I play this piece," says the nostalgic pianist Teo Gheorghiu.

Teo Gheorghiu was born on August 12^th, 1992, near Zürich, in a family of Romanian origin. He studied in London, under the guidance of the English pianist Hamish Milne. Described as an astonishing talent by those who have heard him, Teo Gheorghiu won first prizes in the Franz Liszt competition in Weimarand in the piano competitionin San Marino and has performed in various parts of the world, on stages in Paris, Tokyo, Madrid, London and New York. And in 2017, the pianist, who also holds Canadian citizenship, was given the title of "Best Artist" from this country at the Montreal International Music Competition. Having multicultural interests, the pianist has always been drawn to Romanian repertoire, as well as Spanish and French music, which he explored during his journeys. He is also a passionate cyclist, using this sport as way of getting to know better some parts of Europe and riding his bicycle,he traveled a large part of the Romanian territory, that way he was inspired for his album Roots. Teo Gheorghiu has recorded five albums so far, making his debut in 2010 for Deutsche Grammophon with an album that included concertos by Schumann and Beethoven, then followed two albums produced by Sony Classical, including romantic chamber pieces, a CD with Spanish music and this album dedicated to Romanian compositions, his second in a series of four recordings for the Swiss label Claves Records.

Regarding the creation of this album, Teo Gheorghiu says: "The loss of my father in 2018 was a turning point that opened a new horizon for me: the past. During the communist regime, my parents left everything behind, to start a new life abroad. And my only connection with Romania remained through music. Dinu Lipatti, Radu Lupu, Maria Tănase and many others made me resonate," confesses the pianist Teo Gheorghiu, who joyfully returns in his home country, Romania, to reconnect with his traditions and past, to rediscover himself. That's why the pianist's album carries multiple meanings, Teo Gheorghiu's interpretation is powerful, expressive and sensitive, conveying many emotions.