site.btaThe Only Bulgarian Pianist with All 32 Beethoven Sonatas in His Repertoire to Perform in Plovdiv

On May 3, the concert hall of the Prof. Asen Diamandiev Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts (AMDFA) in Plovdiv will host a special recital by internationally acclaimed pianist Prof. Ivan Donchev. Titled Debut and Legacy, the event marks the beginning of an ambitious project to present all 32 piano sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven, a cycle widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements in classical music.

Only a handful of pianists in Europe - no more than five - perform the entire Beethoven sonata cycle live and by memory, navigating nearly 700 pages of music. Among them is Prof. Donchev, who is set to begin a concert series of ten performances over the next three years. This concert marks the first installment of the trilogy that will culminate in 2025, featuring the first three sonatas in the cycle, he said as he spoke to BTA in Plovdiv.

Ahead of the recital, Prof. Donchev will give a short introductory lecture exploring Beethoven’s complex personality and the emotional depth of his music. "The connection between the genius of the artist and his complex personality is inseparable. A personality that was both conflicted and deeply tragic, but also lived beyond the clichés we’ve perhaps grown too accustomed to. He was a titanic composer, always marked by a sense of drama and a constant struggle with his fate - a deaf genius," Prof. Donchev said.

He admits that to him it is both fascinating and absolutely essential to delve into the psychology of the composer - not just his work - in order to interpret him more authentically and convey that to the audience in a way that feels relevant today. "This is crucial for what we call classical music: it must remain relevant and not be confined to the era in which it was written."

Prof. Donchev emphasized that classical music needs a mediator: "the performer should serve as both interpreter and individual, striking a balance between fidelity to the composer and personal expression," he added.

Reflecting on his career, Donchev emphasized the lasting influence of his mentor, Aldo Ciccolini, whose artistry and humility shaped his musical path. He also credits early competitions in Italy and readings about Beethoven and Liszt as turning points that deepened his commitment to music.

A black belt in karate and a literature enthusiast, Prof. Donchev sees discipline, introspection, and lifelong learning as central to both his personal and artistic development. He currently teaches at AMDFA Plovdiv, where he continues to inspire the next generation of musicians.

Born in Burgas on August 11, 1981, Ivan Donchev completed his early studies under Julia Nenova at the Prof. Pancho Vladigerov National Music Academy. He went on to study piano in Italy with professors Paolo Pollice and Valerio Premuroso, jazz piano with Piero Cusato, and chamber music with Roberto Galletto at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome. From 2007 to 2013, he specialized under Aldo Ciccolini, receiving a personal scholarship from the maestro. Donchev has performed across Europe, the U.S., Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and Russia, and is a frequent soloist with symphony orchestras.