CLASSICAL HOMECOMING

Piano virtuoso Wnukowski back in concert

Windsor-born piano virtuoso Daniel Wnukowski has travelled the world for his acclaimed career. But he hasn’t forgotten his roots. Wnukowski will perform Saturday night at Mackenzie Hall for a homecoming concert that will showcase the technical ability that makes him world class.

“I am presenting a ravishing, dramatic program — difficult and challenging at the same time — requiring the utmost technical and emotional demands from a performer,” Wnukowski said.

Besides his ability on the piano, he’s also pretty good on the mike.

“I bring plenty of storytelling, fun anecdotes about the individual composers, and walk the audience through every piece of music during my concerts,” Wnukowski said.

“Alongside the classical masterworks of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, I have also included several forgotten gems by composers who had escaped the Holocaust, including Roman Ryterband and Ernst Toch.

“Since my grandparents were also Holocaust survivors, I find it especially important to continue bringing the unique stories and music of such composers back to life.”

The concert begins with the English Suite No. 2. by Bach. Wnukowski will also showcase the Canadian premiere of a work by Ryterband, a Polish composer.

Plus, he will feature selections from Mozart, and end the concert with Beethoven’s Appassionata Sonata, Op. 57, known for its explosive finale.

The 36-year-old, multi-awardwinning pianist — the recipient of numerous scholarships and grants — was deemed “rapturous and glowing ” by International Record Review. At the beginning of the year, Wnukowski performed as a special guest at the National Philharmonic Hall in Warsaw. In May he performed at the Austrian Parliament in remembrance of Nazi Holocaust victims.

Meanwhile, Wnukowski was born and raised in Windsor, where he developed his love for piano — winning his first competition at the local Kiwanis Music Festival when he was 13. At that same age, he wrote his first orchestral work that was premiered by the Windsor Symphony.

“Many people in Windsor still remember me as the lanky child with the wild hairdo and oversized specs,” he said.

He left Canada at 15 for further study and has since lived around the world, including in: various U.S. states, London, Rome, Warsaw and Vienna, where he resides today.

“This homecoming concert is a fascinating culmination of over 20 years of enriching, cultural experiences after having lived abroad,” he said.

PROPEL Multi-award-winning pianist Daniel Wnukowski, who was born and raised in Windsor, will bring his and technical abilities on the piano — along with his penchant for storytelling — to Mackenzie Hall on Saturday.