Niel Immelman
Encyclopedia
Niel Immelman is a South Africa
n classical
pianist.
He studied with Cyril Smith
, Ilona Kabos and Maria Curcio
. He was still a student at the Royal College of Music
(where he now teaches) when Bernard Haitink
invited him to play Rachmaninoff
's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
with the London Philharmonic Orchestra
. This successful début was followed by further appearances with the London Philharmonic, the Royal Philharmonic and other major orchestras at the Royal Festival Hall
, the Royal Albert Hall
and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and it marked the beginning of a concert career that has taken him to every continent.
His commercial recordings have received outstanding critical acclaim and have featured in Classic CD magazine's 'Pick of the Year'; his survey of the complete piano works of Josef Suk
on the Meridian label is a first in recorded history. James Leonard, in Allmusic, reviewing the first volume of Immelman's Suk set, opened by noting how important a composer Suk was ("the Bohemian equal of Mahler
, Suk is one of the most lyrical, the most dramatic, and the most tragic composer of the fin de siecle"), so as to indicate the importance of Immelman's project here, and then Leonard praised Immelman's playing as "passionate," "immensely emotional," "fervent," and he said that, "Immelman's performances deserve to be heard by anyone."
Immelman's style is understated, emphasizing the poetic aspects of the music, the aspects that are evocative of images and emotions reflective of the composer's intentions and culture. For this reason, Immelman's recorded performances of the Suk piano music have been considered by some to constitute a landmark of the recorded classical music literature.
Niel Immelman has given masterclasses and he regularly serves on juries of international competitions.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
pianist.
He studied with Cyril Smith
Cyril Smith (pianist)
Cyril James Smith OBE was a virtuoso concert pianist of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, and a piano teacher.-Personal life:...
, Ilona Kabos and Maria Curcio
Maria Curcio
Maria Curcio was an Italian classical pianist who became renowned as a greatly influential and sought-after teacher. Her students included Martha Argerich, Radu Lupu, Dame Mitsuko Uchida, Leon Fleisher and Geoffrey Tozer...
. He was still a student at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
(where he now teaches) when Bernard Haitink
Bernard Haitink
Bernard Johan Herman Haitink, CH, KBE is a Dutch conductor and violinist.- Early life :Haitink was born in Amsterdam, the son of Willem Haitink and Anna Haitink. He studied music at the conservatoire in Amsterdam...
invited him to play Rachmaninoff
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music...
's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
The Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor, Op. 43 is a concertante work written by Sergei Rachmaninoff. It is written for solo piano and symphony orchestra, closely resembling a piano concerto. The work was written at Villa Senar, according to the score, from July 3 to August 18, 1934...
with the London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra
The London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...
. This successful début was followed by further appearances with the London Philharmonic, the Royal Philharmonic and other major orchestras at the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
, the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and it marked the beginning of a concert career that has taken him to every continent.
His commercial recordings have received outstanding critical acclaim and have featured in Classic CD magazine's 'Pick of the Year'; his survey of the complete piano works of Josef Suk
Josef Suk (composer)
Josef Suk was a Czech composer and violinist.- Life :Suk was born in Křečovice. He studied at Prague Conservatory from 1885 to 1892, where he was a pupil of Antonín Dvořák and Antonín Bennewitz. In 1898, he married Dvořák's eldest daughter, Otilie Dvořáková , affectionately known as Otilka...
on the Meridian label is a first in recorded history. James Leonard, in Allmusic, reviewing the first volume of Immelman's Suk set, opened by noting how important a composer Suk was ("the Bohemian equal of Mahler
Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler was a late-Romantic Austrian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation. He was born in the village of Kalischt, Bohemia, in what was then Austria-Hungary, now Kaliště in the Czech Republic...
, Suk is one of the most lyrical, the most dramatic, and the most tragic composer of the fin de siecle"), so as to indicate the importance of Immelman's project here, and then Leonard praised Immelman's playing as "passionate," "immensely emotional," "fervent," and he said that, "Immelman's performances deserve to be heard by anyone."
Immelman's style is understated, emphasizing the poetic aspects of the music, the aspects that are evocative of images and emotions reflective of the composer's intentions and culture. For this reason, Immelman's recorded performances of the Suk piano music have been considered by some to constitute a landmark of the recorded classical music literature.
Niel Immelman has given masterclasses and he regularly serves on juries of international competitions.