Pianist George Vatchnadze collaborates with conductor Norichika Iimori and the Japan Century Symphony Orchestra to bring forth a powerful performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3.Vatchnadze’s sublime, advanced playing abilities beautifully intertwine with the elegant sounds of the orchestra, creating a gem that is further enhanced by The Audiophile’s signature Mega-Dimensional Sound. This experience is brought to life, creating a sense of presence in your home, as if you were in the concert hall that he and the orchestra created this superb recording. The resulting mix does everything but disappoint the ears of audiophiles.

About George Vatchnadze

Vatchnadze has appeared with orchestras throughout the world and has performed at festivals such as the Hollywood Bowl Festival, Ravinia Festival, Stresa Festival and Rotterdam Philharmonic’s “Philips Gergiev” Festival. He has appeared on live broadcasts of the Dutch National Radio, BBC and NPR’s “Performance Today.” In 1999 Mr. Vatchnadze made his New York recital debut at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, of which critics cited: “Vatchnadze is a consummate artist, now at the height of his musical and intellectual powers. He can do absolutely anything he wants at the piano. He commands delicate pianissimi, massive diapasons and everything in between.”  His most recent engagements include appearances at the Osaka Symphony hall with Japan Century Symphony Orchestra, Great Philharmonic Hall and Mariinsky Piano festival in St. Petersburg, Stravinsky and Shostakovich Festivals in Washington DC, Woodstock Festival (NY), Stanford Stravinsky Festival, Pacific Symphony Rachmaninoff Festival, SYArts Festival in Taiwan, performances in Japan, Georgia, Italy and others. In addition to his skill as a performer, Vatchnadze is an associate professor at the DePaul University School of Music and throughout his teaching career, his students have won top prizes at the numerous international competitions and have performed extensively throughout the world. He is also founder and artistic director of the Villa Sandra International Piano Academy in Lesa (Lago Maggiore), Italy. 

About Norichika Iimori

Norichika Iimori graduated from the conducting course of the Toho Gakuen School of Music. After studying in Berlin and Munich, beginning in 1994 he held successive posts including Resident Conductor of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Guest Conductor of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio, and Resident Conductor of the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra. In 1996 he led the European tour of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and was lauded in a newspaper which said, “Iimori will surely go on to attract international attention.” In 2006 he was awarded the “Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists” from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Iimori has been invited to conduct many world-class orchestras including the Radio Symphony Orchestra Frankfurt, Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic, and Prague Symphony Orchestra. In 2001 he became General Music Director of the Württemberg Philharmonic Orchestra, with which he recorded the complete Beethoven Symphonies and carried out a successful Japan tour in 2006. Currently, Norichika Iimori is Music Director of the Pacific Philharmonia Tokyo, Principal Conductor of the Japan Century Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Laureate of the Yamagata Symphony Orchestra, Principal Conductor of the Izumi Sinfonietta Osaka, Principal Guest Conductor of the Württemberg Philharmonic Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor of the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, and Principal Guest Conductor of the Chubu Philharmonic Orchestra. In April 2023, he will become Principal Conductor of the Gunma Symphony Orchestra. 

About the Japan Century Symphony Orchestra

Established in 1989 as an orchestra for Osaka, it was named the Osaka Century Symphony Orchestra after an open call from the citizens of Osaka. In 2011, the Japan Century Symphony Orchestra became independent from Osaka and in 2019 celebrated its 30th anniversary. The orchestra is actively engaged in various forms of concerts transcending genres, performing more than 200 times a year, which includes commissioned performances, chamber music concerts, and school performances. “Communicate the power of the region through excellent performances;” “Provide excitement and healing through the orchestra;” “Discover outstanding talent and contribute to the development of the next generation;” “Actively contribute to international mutual understanding and peace.” Based on these four philosophies, the orchestra hopes to spread bright dreams in the hearts of many people through their performances and aims to develop a new era for the orchestra.