Reinis Zarins

“Zarins’ breadth of tone is so extensive that one has the impression that each set is played on a different piano.” (Raymond Beegle, ArkivMusic.com) “Zarins’ performance of Petrushka is one of the most charming accounts of this work I have ever heard.” (Michael Church, BBC Music Magazine) “Particularly impressive was Zarins’ complete tonal range and his splendid voicing throughout. This was consistent pianism of a high order, such as to make us long to hear him in a full-scale concerto.” (James Palmer, MusicalOpinion.com) “The superhuman difficulties of the piece (Stravinsky Petrushka) appeared almost incidental with Zarins focusing on creating a collection of vivid musical effects.” (Robert Beattie, Seen and Heard International) A twofold recipient of the prestigious Great Music Award of Latvia, pianist Reinis Zariņš began his musical journey twenty-three years ago. Reinis has studied music and piano performance in J.Mediņš and E.Dārziņš music colleges (Latvia), J.Vītols Latvian Music Academy, and in Yale University School of Music (USA) and Royal Academy of Music, London. As a student, Reinis has garnered first class honours and “Student of the Year” title; as a competitor, he has won top prizes in eleven international competitions, including first prizes in B.Smetana International Competition (Czech Republic), Jaques Samuel Piano Competition (UK), and “Brother and Sister” piano-duo competition in St.Petersburg, (Russia). His main tutors have been Boris Berman, Christopher Elton, Raffi Kharajanyan and Renē Salaks; other formative influences are Claude Frank, Pascal Devoyon, Pierre Boulez, Peter Frankl, Richard Goode, Jesse Levine, Tokyo and Vermeer string quartets. In Latvia, Reinis regularly performs as a soloist with the leading orchestras, and as a recitalist and chamber musician. His performances are broadcast live on national radio and TV, and in the recent years several of them have been awarded Best-of-the-Year title by the Classical Radio. Reinis is a two times winner of the supreme Latvian state award in music – the Great Music Award. As an international artist, Reinis performs on both sides of the Atlantic, and recently also in South Africa. Exhilarated audiences have heard him as a recitalist, chamber musician and soloist with orchestras in the Baltic States, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Russia, and United States, in such venues as Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and Steinway Hall in New York, London’s Wigmore and Steinway halls, St. Petersburg’s Glazunov Hall, and Tchaikovsky hall in Moscow. Reinis has been invited to perform in Lucerne Festival, Bath International Music Festival, Yale-Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, MasterWorks, Kremerata Baltica and Norfolk&Norwich Festival (UK), and Holland Music Sessions. He has collaborated with conductors Pablo Heras-Casado, Peter Eötvös, Diego Masson, David Gier, Ariel Zuckermann, Andris Poga, Atvars Lakstīgala and Ainārs Rubiķis, among others. Performances with Pierre Boulez and Ensemble Intercontemporain have strengthened Reinis’ interest in the contemporary repertoire and its relationship with the classics. Besides, Reinis’ view of music as a means of communication has led to several conceptual projects. Reinis has recorded two critically-acclaimed albums with Champs Hill Records: Circus & Magic, and a recital of works by the eminent Latvian classicist Jāzeps Vītols. Reinis’ debut recital in Wigmore hall has also been released featuring Beethoven’s “Hammerklavier” sonata and works by Schubert. Presently, he resides in London with his wife and children.