Successful recital at the Teatro Colón
Buenos Aires, 24 April 2023
MOZART: Piano Quartets / Rondo Concertante (arr. Lazić)
Mozart CD on Onyx Classics // Making-of film "Time for Mozart"
“This recording will surely add to this Croatian pianist’s reputation as one of the leading players of his generation.”
BBC Music Magazine (on "Life, Love & Afterlife — a Liszt recital", Onyx Classics)
“Dejan Lazic is the real deal.”
The Sydney Morning Herald (after solo recital at the Melbourne Recital Centre)

New Release

This is the first instalment of Piano Concertos by W. A. Mozart — Dejan is teaming up with Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra & Jan Willem de Vriend. Vol. 1 has been released in Autumn of 2023, Vol. 2 is expected in Autumn of 2024, Vol. 3 in Spring of 2025…  Stay tuned!

Dejan Lazić: “The concept behind our present undertaking, the Mozart Piano Concertos CD-trilogy, is to bring together concertos of Mozart’s miscellaneous composing and performing periods, styles, techniques, and instrumentations side by side, thus to deeply examine and throughout his travels more closely explore his many creative phases within this genre. That is linked further with an encore-like single work on each CD, yet the additional connecting link between these initially planned six piano concertos is the Cadenzas & Lead-ins which I have composed myself.

Me and conductor de Vriend, partnering here together with the wonderful Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, we took a great care of the needs of Mozart’s music that was of course written for an instrument with a different timbre and dynamic range than the modern concert grand, thus carefully balancing the methods of playing: voicing, phrasing, articulation, rhetoric, and dynamics during solo, accompanied solo and tutti.”

• For more information please visit —> Challenge Records International

Dejan’s new CD “Istrian Rhapsody” featuring his own compositions has just been released on BR-Klassik label.

The disc opens with Dejan’s “Concerto in Istrian Style” for piano and orchestra, op. 18, with him as the soloist, and closes with his “Alterations on the Istrian Folk Anthem” for orchestra, op. 29. Dejan is joined by the Münchner Rundfunkorchester (Munich Radio Orchestra) conducted by Ivan Repušić.

Also on the CD you can listen to Dejan’s choir arrangement of the Istrian Folk Anthem, originally composed by Ivan Matetić Ronjgov”, performed by The Choir of the Croatian Radio and Television, conducted by Tomislav Fačini, as well as Natko Devčić’s “Istrian Suite” for orchestra. Also on this CD you can hear the Istrian Folk Anthem performed on traditional Istrian instruments (sopile) by Stjepan Večković.

• More information about the CD —> Dejan Lazić: Istrian Rhapsody

• More information about the music —> Boosey & Hawkes • Sikorski

• TV Show “KlickKlack” about the new CD —> “KlickKlack” (BR Television)

Mozart’s two piano quartets are both masterpieces and among the greatest chamber works in the repertoire. The Rondo concertante is arranged from the last movement of the piano sonata K333, which unusually has a cadenza passage, which lead pianist Dejan Lazić to make a version for piano and orchestra.

On this recording a version for piano quintet brings the music in another fresh guise and you’d be hard pressed to know it wasn’t by Mozart himself.

Lazić is joined by friends he has performed with for years but this is actually his first recording of chamber music in a long recording career. The result is joyful, intimate music making, of the sort only musicians who have a lifetime of performing together can achieve. (Onyx Classics)

WATCH HERE THE MAKING-OF VIDEO (featuring behind-the-scenes moments, interviews, insights into the rehearsals, recording sessions, and the live concert atmosphere on site):

“TIME FOR MOZART” — a film by Lin Gothoni, 2020 (German with English subtitles)

Dejan Lazić / Netherlands Chamber Orchestra / Gordan Nikolić

Beethoven’s transcription for piano of his violin concerto was made at the request of London based Muzio Clementi. Beethoven admired Clementi as a pianist and found his business as a publisher of use. Johann Baptiste Cramer was a composer and pianist also admired and respected by Beethoven and he settled in London . Both these composers played significant roles in the development of the piano, something Beethoven followed keenly. This fascinating album contains Beethoven’s Piano Concerto in D op61a, Clementi’s Piano Sonata in B minor op40/2, and Cramer’s Piano Sonata in E op62 ‘Le retour à Londres’.

Dejan Lazić’s fantastic Liszt recital has been released in April 2017

“A fascinating portrait of Liszt as composer, arranger and restless traveller. A must for all lovers of great piano playing, and who wish to explore the wonders of Liszt’s music.” (Onyx Classics, 2017)

Dejan Lazić; on this, his first album for ONYX, pays tribute to a composer and his legacy as a piano virtuoso, organist, improviser, arranger, conductor, teacher, author, philanthropist and traveller.

Liszt lived life to the full, and this recital captures that love of life, his genius as a pianist and composer, a traveller with a restless and curious mind. Liszt’s respect for the music of other composers is to be found in his arrangements for piano of orchestral, operatic and other vocal works. From Wagner’s operas to Schubert Lieder via Beethoven Symphonies, his deep love for the music is apparent and such arrangements gave this music a wider audience in both the salons and domestic settings that lives on today.

“Embarking on a recording project like this obviously required a substantial amount of preparation time. But once the date has come it was of a tremendous importance to capture and to honour the spontaneity of Liszt’s versatile, eclectic, and revolutionary genius”, writes Dejan in his introduction to the recital, captured at a live performance at Hohenhems, and one further day in studio conditions.

PRESS RELEASE

L. van Beethoven: Concerto for Violin, Violoncello, Piano and Orchestra in C major, op. 56 (“Triple Concerto”)

Giuliano Carmignola, violin

Sol Gabetta, violoncello

Dejan Lazić, piano

Basel Chamber Orchestra

Giovanni Antonini, conductor

Liaisons – Vol. 3

C.Ph.E. Bach: Piano Sonatas in D minor & E-flat major;
Fantasia in D major; La Böhmer (Murky)
B. Britten: Holiday Diary Suite; Nocturne; 5 Waltzes

Britten: Holiday Diary, Op. 5, Fun-Fair (excerpt)
C. Ph. E. Bach: Sonata in E-flat major, Allegro di molto

Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, op. 58
with Australian Chamber Orchestra / Richard Tognetti

(CCS SA 30511)

Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, op. 27, No. 2 (‘Moonlight’)

Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, op. 110

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, op. 58, Rondo - Vivace
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, op. 27, Presto agitato
Piano Concerto No. 3 in D major after Violin Concerto, op. 77 with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra / Robert Spano

WORLD PREMIERE RECORDING (CCS SA 29410)

J. BRAHMS:
2 Rhapsodies, op. 79
Scherzo, op. 4

Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, op. 18
with London Philharmonic Orchestra / Kirill Petrenko

(CCS SA 26308)

Moderato; Allegro
Adagio sostenuto
Allegro scherzando

Moments Musicaux, op. 16
Andantino
Allegretto
Andante Cantabile
Presto
Adagio sostenuto
Maestoso

Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2, Allegro scherzando (excerpt)
Rachmaninov: Moment Musicaux op. 16, No. 1: Andantino (excerpt)

Liaisons Vol. 2
(CCS SA 27609)

Robert Schumann: Papillons, Op. 2
Robert Schumann: Waldszenen, Op. 82

Johannes Brahms: Klavierstücke, Op. 118

Liaisons Vol. 1

(CCS SA 23407)

Domenico Scarlatti (1685 – 1757)

Sonata in C major, K. 420 – Allegro
Sonata in f minor, K. 58 – Fuga
Sonata in F major, K. 82 – Allegro
Sonata in D major, K. 491 – Allegro
Sonata in D major, K. 430 – Non presto ma a tempo di ballo
Sonata in C major, K. 159 – Allegro
Sonata in d minor, K. 9 – Allegro
Sonata in F major, K. 17 – Presto
Sonata in a minor, K. 3 – Presto
Sonata in E major, K. 380 – Andante comodo
Sonata in E major, K. 135 – Allegro

Béla Bartók (1881 – 1945)

3 Rondos on Slovak Folktunes, Sz 84, BB 92;
7 Sketches, Sz 44, BB 54 (op. 9b);
Funeral March from symphonic poem ‘Kossuth’, Sz 21, BB 31 (arranged for piano by the composer);
6 Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm (from ‘Microcosmos’ – Vol. 6), Sz 107, BB 105

Dance in Bulgarian Rhythm No. 4, from 'Microcosmos' - Vol. 6

Sonata in B-flat major, D 960 (op. posth.)
‘Moments Musicals’, D 780 (op. 94)

 (CCS SA 20705)

Haydn: English Sonatas
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2

(CCS SA 19703)

Haydn: Piano Sonata in C major, Hob. XVII:50
Haydn: Piano Sonata in E-flat major, Hob. XVII:52
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, op. 19

Retrospection

Piano Works: 1899 – 1917
(CCS 17598)

Prélude (1913)
Menuet sur le nom d’Haydn (1909)

Pavane pour une infante défunte (1899)
Sonatine (1903-05)
Le Tombeau de Couperin (1914-1917)

Valses nobles et sentimentales (1911)

À la manière de Chabrier (1913)
À la manière de Borodine (1913)
Prelude (Postlude, 1913) – Version 2: d´un rythme libre

Retrospection
(CCS 15998)

Sonata in B-flat Minor, op. 35 (‘with the funeral march’);

2 Nocturnes, op. 32;
Valse in C-sharp Minor, op. 64 no. 2;
Valse in D-flat Major, op. 64 no. 1;
Valse in G-flat Major, op. 70 no. 1;
Ballade in G minor, op. 23;
Grande Polonaise brillante précédée d’un Andante Spianato

in E-flat Major, op. 22;

Valse in A-flat Major, op. 69 no. 1;
Grande Valse brillante in E-flat Major, op. 18;
Valse in E Minor, op. posth.

Retrospection
(CCS 13398)

Gigue in G major, K. 574;
Fantasia and Fugue in C major, K. 394 (383a);
Sonata in C major, K. 330 (330h);
Minuet in D major, K. 355 (594a; KV6:576b);
Sonata in G major, K. 283 (189h);
Fantasia in d minor, K. 397 (385g);
9 Variations in D major, after a Minuet of Jean-Pierre Duport, K. 573;
Minuet in G major, K. 1 (KV6:1e);
Minuet in C major, K. 1, Trio (KV 6:1f)

W. A. Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622

W. A. Mozart: Piano Concerto in E-flat major, K. 449

Dejan Lazić, clarinet & piano

Zagreb Soloists

(recording: 1991)

Next Concerts

Apr 01, 2024 International (INT)
tba
The current period is reserved for CD recording sessions and for composing of a new commissioned work.
May 06, 2024 Bergen (NOR)
Grieghallen
Mozart Piano Concertos
May 07, 2024 Bergen (NOR)
Grieghallen
Mozart Piano Concertos
May 08, 2024 Bergen (NOR)
Grieghallen
Mozart Piano Concertos
May 16, 2024 Ingolstadt (DEU)
Stadttheater
Haydn, Mozart & Britten
May 24, 2024 Kyoto (JPN)
Kyoto Concert Hall
Mozart in Japan
May 25, 2024 Kyoto (JPN)
Kyoto Concert Hall
Beethoven in Japan

Previous Concerts

Compositions

Upcoming Variations on a Kanding Love Song — for Violin solo
Upcoming “Chinese Fantasy“ for Violin and Orchestra
2022 Alterations on the Istrian Folk Anthem — for Orchestra (Op. 29) & for Piano (Op. 29a)
2022 “Kaleidoscope” for Clarinet or Violin, Violoncello and Piano, Op. 28
2021 Rhapsody in Istrian Style — for Piano solo
2021 W. A. Mozart / arr. D. Lazić: Adagio in B minor, K. 540 — for String Quartet
2020 Cadenzas & Lead-ins for 6 Piano Concertos by W. A. Mozart
2020 F. Schubert / arr. D. Lazić: “The Shepherd on the Rock” — for Piano solo
2019 “S.C.H.E.rzo“ for Orchestra, Op. 25
2018 Cadenzas for the Piano Concertos by Joseph Haydn
2018 “Trout Pond” — a Variation after the Theme of the Song “The Trout” by Franz Schubert, Op. 23
2018 W. A. Mozart / arr. D. Lazić: ”Rondo Concertante” after ”Allegretto grazioso“ from Piano Sonata in B-flat major, K. 333
2017 Cadenzas for the Piano Concertos by Ludwig van Beethoven
2017 “Mozart and Salieri” — Symphonic Poem inspired by Alexander Pushkin’s eponymous drama, Op. 21
2014 Piano Concerto in Istrian Style, Op. 18
2009 J. Brahms / arr. D. Lazić: Piano Concerto ”No. 3” in D Major (after Violin Concerto, Op. 77) with Cadenza by Dejan Lazić
2008 “Istrian Dance“, Op. 15a
2005 “Kinderszenen“ – Hommage a Schumann, Op. 15
2003 “The Storm“ – 8 Miniatures for Orchestra, Op. 14
2001 “Jupiter and Beyond the Infinite“: Fantasy for Flute, Viola and Piano, Op. 13

Videos

MOZART: Piano Quartets & Rondo concertante / Dejan Lazić & friends • making-of the new CD — a film by Lin Gothoni (2020)

Mozart’s two piano quartets are both masterpieces and among the greatest chamber works in the repertoire. The Rondo concertante is arranged from the last movement of the piano sonata K333, which unusually has a cadenza passage, which led pianist Dejan Lazić to make a version for piano and orchestra. (Onyx Classics)

Dejan Lazić plays Dejan Lazić: “Istrian Dance”, Op. 15 (piano solo version)

Dejan Lazić performs live at the National Béla Bartók Concert Hall in Budapest his own “Istrian Dance” for piano solo, Op. 15. This was the encore after performing there Franz Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with Budapest Festival Orchestra & Iván Fischer, as a part of their European tour. There also exist versions for ...

W. A. Mozart: Piano Concerto in A major, K. 488 (No. 23) — live from Concertgebouw Amsterdam

Live from Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Dejan plays Mozart’s Piano Concerto in A major, K. 488 (No. 23), with Jan Willem de Vriend & Netherlands Symphony Orchestra. (Cadenza: Dejan Lazić)

D. Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major, Op. 102

Ahead of his concerts with Netherlands Chamber Orchestra & Gordan Nikolić, Dejan plays a clip from Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 as well as some football — renownedly also Shostakovich’s other passion…

F. Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 2 with Budapest Festival Orchestra & Iván Fischer

Watch here the preview of Dejan’s performance of Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, filmed live at the National Béla Bartók Concert Hall — Müpa Budapest on 1 April 2017, as a part of the recent European tour with Budapest Festival Orchestra and Iván Fischer. Budapest, 1 April 2017

J. Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 with Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra & John Storgårds

Excerpts from J. Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major: *Allegro appassionato (fade out) *Allegretto grazioso (fade out) Filmed live in Helsinki Music Centre, Finland, on 17 October 2014

Beethoven’s Triple Concerto on German TV

Here you can watch a short film about the creative process during rehearsals, concerts and recording sessions of Beethoven’s Concerto for Piano, Violin, Violoncello and Orchestra in C major, op. 56 (‘Triple Concerto’). Cellist and host of Germany’s beloved TV-show ‘KlickKlack’, Sol Gabetta talks to Dejan, ...

MITO: Festival Internazionale della Musica — Milan, Italy

F. Liszt: ‘Totentanz’ (‘Dance of the Dead’) for piano and orchestra – excerpts Dejan Lazić, piano Budapest Festival Orchestra Iván Fischer, conductor Conservatorio di Milano, Sala Verdi – a cura di OLO Creative Farm (English & Italiano)

Dejan is the guest on ‘Klick-Klack’, beloved German TV show

Here he talks to cellist and moderator of the show Sol Gabetta about his recent arrangement of Brahms Violin Concerto and in a musical exchange with violinist Benjamin Schmid the two compare the original version with present arrangement, all accompanied by several live-clips filmed recently at the Amsterdam Premiere in Concertgebouw! (Deutsch)

Dutch Premiere: 24 September 2011, Amsterdam Concertgebouw

Brahms / arr. Lazic: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D major (after Violin Concerto, op. 77) Featuring: Zen Hu, violin Pianist en componist Dejan Lazić laat zien en horen hoe hij het Vioolconcert van Brahms bewerkte voor piano en orkest. De vraag is: wat doet een violist, wat de pianist niet kan? Maar ook: hoe […]

Dejan as special guest on German ZDF-Afternoon Journal in Mainz

Dejan was a special guest on German TV show ZDF-Afternoon Journal at the station’s Broadcasting Center in Mainz, Germany. Here you can watch an interview followed by a coverage of his life in Amsterdam, his early years in Zagreb and Salzburg, his passion for music and football, plus his debut appearance at the world famous ...

MAKING OF ‘BRAHMS 3’: transforming a Violin Concerto into a Piano Concerto

Dejan demonstrates at the piano and talks about the process of the arrangement, followed by clips from rehearsals with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, interviews with Dejan Lazić and Robert Spano, and much more – all filmed on location in Atlanta, USA and in Sydney, Australia. (English)

Dejan Lazić appeared on VPRO’s popular TV show ‘Free Sounds’

In Amsterdam Dejan appeared on VPRO’s popular TV show ‘Free Sounds’. There he presented his recent Brahms CD and performed Brahms’ Rhapsody in B minor, op. 79 no. 1 live in studio. (English with Nederlands subtitles)

Dejan as special guest on German TV show ZDF-Morning Journal in Berlin

His appearance there included an interview and a live studio performance of Rachmaninov’s ‘Moment Musicaux’ op. 16, No. 1. (Deutsch)
Rachmaninov: Moment Musicaux op. 16, No. 1: Andantino (excerpt)