Jan Lisiecki: Portrait of a charismatic piano virtuoso

He’s one of the piano greats. This Canadian musician of Polish heritage dazzles audiences both with his virtuosity and with the maturity of his interpretations. He comes across as a pianist with decades of experience. But Jan Lisiecki is just 27 years old.

Lisiecki is a modest interviewee; he speaks candidly about his love for the piano and how he manages his huge workload, as well as how he values his personal life. A multi-faceted picture emerges of an extraordinary pianist known for his capacity for profound self-reflection. And of course, we get to hear him play throughout the video, with excerpts from some of his most powerful performances.

We met Jan Lisiecki during his performance with the New York Philharmonic in Peenemünde on the German island of Usedom in May 2022.

At a glance:
00:00 Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73, Jan Lisiecki, piano, excerpt
01:06 Jan Lisiecki on his early mastery/maturity on the piano
02:00 Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73, Jan Lisiecki, piano, excerpt
02:22 Jan Lisiecki on joy and pain at his live concerts
03:01 Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73, Jan Lisiecki, piano, excerpt
03:44 Jan Lisiecki on Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5
04:58 Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73, Jan Lisiecki, piano, rehearsal
05:31 Jan Lisiecki on how he prepares for a concert
06:15 Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73, Jan Lisiecki, piano, excerpt
06:41 Jan Lisiecki on playing the piano at 3 a.m.
07:16 Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73, Jan Lisiecki, piano, rehearsal
07:39 Jan Lisiecki when asked what time he goes to bed
07:52 Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73, Jan Lisiecki, piano, rehearsal
08:03 Jan Lisiecki on the balance between professional and personal life
08:49 Jan Lisiecki at the beach on the island of Usedom
08:57 Jan Lisiecki on other forms of art and how they influence him
09:52 Robert Schumann, Night Pieces, Op. 23, I. Funeral Procession, Jan Lisiecki, piano, excerpt
10:57 Jan Lisiecki on his youth and how he came to music
11:57 Maurice Ravel, Gaspard de la nuit, Jan Lisiecki, piano, excerpt
12:20 Jan Lisiecki on how he learns a new piece
13:26 Frédéric Chopin, Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20, Jan Lisiecki, piano, excerpt
14:06 Jan Lisiecki on his affection for Chopin and his Polish roots
15:04 Frédéric Chopin, Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20, Jan Lisiecki, piano, excerpt
15:40 Jan Lisiecki on stereotypes in music and in life
16:50 Frédéric Chopin, Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20, Jan Lisiecki, piano, excerpt
17:32 Jan Lisiecki on his purist approach to music and jumping barriers
18:39 Frédéric Chopin, Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20, Jan Lisiecki, piano, excerpt
19:14 Jan Lisiecki on being mentioned in the same breath with other star pianists
20:33 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Twelve Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman” K. 265/300e, Jan Lisiecki, piano, excerpt
20:59 Jan Lisiecki on Germany – one of his favorite places
21:40 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Twelve Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman” K. 265/300e, Jan Lisiecki, piano, excerpt
22:17 Jan Lisiecki on his ideas of how to spread classical music
23:35 Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73, Jan Lisiecki, piano, excerpt

Thumbnail: © Christoph Köstlin / Deutsche Grammophon

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