Chopinist

Alan Kogosowski is one of the few pianists today to have earned the title Chopinist, in acknowledgement of his dedication to and understanding of the music of the piano's greatest composer. In 1999, Alan Kogosowski was honored by the Polish branch of the Order of the Knights of Malta with a special decoration in recognition of his many outstanding all-Chopin recitals in London, and his highly successful series of Chopin concerts to raise funds for medicines to be sent to Poland, recalling a similar practice by the great pianist/composer himself.

Kogosowski's recreation of Chopin's last public appearance, which took place in 1848 in London's Guildhall, has been called "one  of London's great musical events". When he repeated this program in Chicago's Orchestra Hall, the Chicago Sun Times declared that "this was Chopin in the hands of a master.

In his many all-Chopin recitals Alan Kogosowski has demonstrated his belief that Chopin's music is one of the most powerful artistic symbols of the human spirit.

A Varied Career

Though best known as a virtuoso pianist and an insightful interpreter of the Romantic repertoire, Alan Kogosowski is also recognized as an outstanding presenter of music. For ten years he hosted a distinguished series of musical evenings in London, known as Schubertiades, at Sotheby’s, with guest artists from all over the world.  He also co-ordinated and presented several series of concerts at the Royal Academy of Arts, Leighton House and the Gibson Hall. He has performed on many occasions for the British Royal Family.

In 2001 Mr. Kogosowski took up the position of Artistic Advisor to the Palm Beach Symphony, with responsibility for a wide range of concerts from symphonic to chamber and vocal. Mr. Kogosowski himself took part in performances of the Chopin Third Concerto as well as chamber music, and appearances together with opera stars.

Orchestrations

Alan Kogosowski has contributed two outstanding additions to the piano concerto repertoire. Concerto Elegiaque in D minor, his own orchestration of Rachmaninoff’s neglected great Trio in D Minor, was recorded by Neeme Järvi and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, with Kogosowski himself as soloist. The recording, on the Chandos label, was named Best Recording of the Year in 1994 by the American Record Guide, and continues to sell exceptionally well all over the world.

Kogosowski has followed that work with his reconstruction and orchestration of Chopin’s unfinished Concerto No. 3 in A major.  This beautiful and brilliant work is now a complete companion to the two already famous concertos by Chopin. The Third Concerto has now been published, and was premiered in 1999 by Mr. Kogosowski, again with Maestro Järvi and the Detroit Symphony.

Television

In addition to these two contributions to the piano and orchestra repertoire, Alan Kogosowski has produced a TV series about the life and music of Frederic Chopin, in which he performs and introduces a wide cross-section of the great composer's key works. See Chopin TV Series and Video

Kogosowski's Unusual Background

Alan Kogosowski's specialized European training in the use of the hand and fingers allowed him to practise unlimited hours a day throughout his childhood and adult career. His knowledge of the co-ordination of the hand muscles and ligaments developed further when, at the age of twenty-one, the bones of his right hand were broken in a car accident. Returning to the concert stage after only eighteen months, Mr. Kogosowski demonstrated a technique that was more brilliant and capable of endurance than before, thanks to his study and understanding of the use of the hands and fingers.

Calling on his profound understanding of the piano technique originated and developed by Chopin, Kogosowski has evolved a unique method of helping the growing number of people afflicted with carpal tunnel syndrome. After many years of study of the anatomical aspects of piano technique, he has adapted his knowledge of the positioning of the hands and posture at the keyboard to the prevention and remedy of this condition, which has afflicted pianists and violinists for years, but which has now come to much wider general attention.