"The rhythmic subtlety and the articulation of mood
and tone color was a kind this music rarely receives. He is an
artist one definitely wants to hear again"
Richard Buell , Boston Globe
Pianist Horia Mihail has made his professional debut in his native
Romanian city of Brasov, playing Haydn's D major Concerto at the
age of 10. Since then he has appeared over two hundred times as
soloist with all Romanian orchestras, including the “George
Enescu” Philharmonic and the National Radio Orchestra of
Romania, and performed with the Boston Pops (under John Williams
and Keith Lockhart), Boston University Symphony, University of
Illinois Symphony, and Topeka Symphony orchestras. "The rhythmic
subtlety and the articulation of mood and tone color was a kind
this music rarely receives" reads Boston Globe after one
of his performances.
Mr.
Horia Mihail has performed solo and chamber
music recitals in Romania, Italy, England, Belgium, France, Germany,
Ireland and the United States (including a debut recital in New
York City at Carnegie Recital Hall). He has also collaborated
with such noted artists as Roman Totenberg, Liviu Prunaru, Yuri
Mazurkevich, Lory Wallfisch, Michael Zaretsky, Peter Zazofsky,
Alexandru Tomescu, Andrés Díaz, and Nathaniel Rosen.
Horia Mihail appeared as guest artist at several
editions of the International New Music Festival in Bucharest,
at the “George Enescu” International Festival, at
the Gúbbio Festival, the Assisi Festival, and "Musica
da Camera" Concert Series.
Horia Mihail began his musical studies under
the guidance of Prof. Stela Dragulin. He is an Alumnus of the
University of Illinois, graduating in 1995 after completing both
the Bachelor and Master Degrees in a period of three years, and
graduated from Boston University where he studied with Anthony
di Bonaventura in the prestigious Artist Diploma Program. He is
also a graduate in Mathematics and Physics from “Andrei
Saguna” College in Brasov, Romania.
Winner of international competitions in Italy and England,
Horia
Mihail has been awarded first prizes in all piano competitions
he entered. He is also a recipient of the Kate Neal Kinley Memorial
Fellowship and of the “Esther B. and Albert S. Kahn Career
Entry Award”. He received full scholarships at the institutions
where he pursued his studies.
He has been featured on and recorded for the National Radio and
Television of Romania, Belgium, England, the Voice of America,
and other American radio stations, and recorded with the Romanian
State Radio Symphony and Chamber orchestras.
World-renowned pianist Radu Lupu has recently described
Horia Mihail's playing as "impressive, showing excellent
instrumental command and solid, unaffected musicianship".
After serving on the on the piano faculty at Boston University
for three years, Mr.
Horia Mihail returned to
Romania where he is a permanent Concert Soloist of the Brasov
Philharmonic, member of the Romanian Piano Trio, and was invited
to hold a professorship at the “Transylvania” University
in Brasov.
Recently, Mr.
Horia Mihail performed concerts,
solo and chamber music recitals in venues such as “The Arts
Festival” in Bucharest, “The Festival of Two Worlds”
in Spoleto, Italy, the MDR Music Festival in Dresden, Germany,
in Vienna, Bucharest and recorded for the National Radio of Romania.
Upcoming concerts will take place in various cities of Romania,
as well as tours in Italy, Ukraine, Spain, Germany and Switzerland.
_______________________
Newspaper Reviews
"Mihail, a pianist from Romania, played the Brahms
D-minor Concerto, not usual student fare, but Mihail is not
an usual student. A pianist of considerable talent and experience,
he has played with many orchestras in Romania, including the
major ones. He has the chops to play this daunting piece and
the sensibility to make music out of the most challenging episodes;
everything was carefully worked out and proportioned. All of
his performance was impressive, and the finale was better that
that because it added spontaneity to the list of Mihail's virtues.
In the finale the music finally permits the pianist to stop
pumping iron; Mihail played with plenty of power, but also with
a delectable lightness and point. Hoose and the orchestra supported
and surrounded him with a major go-for-broke performance. Mihail
is a pianist one is eager to hear again."
Richard Dyer, Boston Globe
"…the way Horia Mihail exposed his clearly formulated
ideas, his sense of polishing the musical phrases, the tact
he demonstrated when "discussing" with the orchestra,
the beauty that arouses out of simplicity and of the quality
of his sound, all these announce the beginning of an exceptional
career"
Alfred Hoffman, Romania Libera - Bucharest
"…he is a talent who is able to express the whole
power of the Romanian performing school…"
Iosif Sava, Muzica - Bucharest
"… I attended this concert seating on the stairs,
on the left side of the hall. Besides his sobriety, Horia Mihail
shows an unusual musicality, polished in a very professional
manner.“
Dumitru Avakian, Romania Libera - Bucharest
"The recital at the American Cultural Center attested
that he is in an exceptional shape. He confirmed our expectations."
Iosif Sava, Libertatea - Bucharest
Horia Mihail proved once again an intelligent pianist, with
an impeccable technique. He is capable to reveal the scores’
gist with stylistic accuracy, and to finely combine powerful
moments with poetical, lyrical ones.
Anca Florea, Obesrvator Cultural - Bucharest