Niklas Sivelöv, a world-renowned Scandinavian pianist who has won numerous awards and distinctions over the years including the Diapason d’Or and a Cannes nomination for best twentieth century recording, performed last Tuesday at the Newman Center to students and the public.

Along with being a dedicated chamber musician and giving recitals all over the world, including performance collaborations with leading orchestras across Europe, Sivelöv is also a composer.

Despite the snowy conditions, the event, which was free to students and $10 for the public, gathered sixty people to the Frederic C. Hamilton Family Recital Hall where  Sivelöv’s demonstrated his music expertise through a unique performance with style and amazing skill.

Steven Mayer, Associate Professor of Piano, at the Lamont School of Music organized this event and has brought in many of the other guest performers over the years.

“The people I brought before have all been wonderful in their own ways, but he [Sivelöv] brings a certain kind of flavor of Scandinavia you could say,” said Mayer. “He is a little more exotic.”

Sivelöv played a standard set of songs by European composers; however, his recital was anything but standard.
Mixed with emotion and movement, Sivelöv’s love for the music was evident each time his fingers touched the keys and throughout his hour-and-a-half-long performance, Sivelöv kept the audience entertained by changing the tone of the show.

Sivelöv began with one of German composer Johann Bach’s famous compositions, “Partita in C Minor.” This performance was a set of six harpsichord suites and was very light-hearted and upbeat, setting the tone for the beginning of the show. His finger barely pressed on the keys and each time he pressed down on the key he swayed his head from side to side in motion with the music.

Following this, he played another upbeat set by the Hungarian composer Franz Liszt, entitled “Première Année.”
Following the intermission, Sivelov contrasted the first two performances with more dramatic performances. He began the second half of the recital with a theatrical performance of German composer Ludwig van Beethoven’s composition “Piano Sonata No. 3 in E Major.” Here, Sivelöv pounded on the keys and his fingers moved rapidly. He finished his set with a performance of a piece by the Hungarian composer, Béla Bartók “Sonata Sz.80.”

Sivelöv came full circle and finished his encore with another piece from Bach, which left the audience feeling captivated and refreshed and although he was very professional, he seemed humble as he looked out and waved gratefully.

The majority of the audience had been respectfully refraining from clapping until after each song was complete; however, the standing ovation at the end proved he had wowed the crowd.

“All the people I bring are like this [talented], he’s a wonderful performer and a wonderful teacher,” said Mayer.

Sivelöv, a professor at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Copenhagen, also taught a master class to two of the Lamont School of Music piano students, on Wednesday April 10, from 2-3:30 p.m. The event was held in the Frederic C. Hamilton Family Recital Hall for anyone to come and observe.

“We want to raise the level of the school and knowledge and experience,” said Mayer.