The Ukrainian master pianist and the father of “continuous piano music” returns to Copenhagen with his meditative performance. After a sold-out and dazzlingly beautiful concert at Christians Kirke in 2020, we are thrilled to present Lubomyr Melnyk in the special surroundings of Glyptoteket, where the rich use of overtones in the music will unfold beautifully. The concert is presented in collaboration with Glyptoteket. NOTE: The ticket sales start on Friday December 8th at 10 AM.

Ukrainian pianist Lubomyr Melnyk is known for his unique technique – “continuous piano music” – which combines the minimalist and meditative with extremely fast-played notes and overtones that merge into complex patterns. This requires a highly developed and refined playing style, challenging for other pianists to emulate, earning Melnyk the title of the world’s fastest living concert pianist, often compared to contemporary figures like Franz Liszt.

While Lubomyr Melnyk’s music may be extremely challenging to play, it is by no means difficult to listen to. The melodies are often profoundly beautiful, and the delicately shimmering tones create a unique poetic sonic world that has captivated and inspired many. Melnyk has a following in the modern classical music scene but also enjoys recognition in electronic music circles for his simultaneously complex and ambient music, which, due to its myriad tones and overtones, can sometimes sound like electronic music despite being entirely acoustic.

Musically, references to major American minimalists like Terry Riley and Philip Glass can be found, but connoisseurs have also noted inspirations from Ravi Shankar in the hypnotic music. The music invokes meditative and spiritual dimensions, but Melnyk is also known for drawing inspiration from romantic film music. Since 1980, he has released over 20 albums on labels such as Unseen Worlds, Erased Tapes, and Sony Classical. Most recently, he has released the album “The Sacred Thousand” (Jersika Records, 2023), a somber and impressive work dedicated to the heroic Ukrainian soldiers who held out against the enormous Russian army for several weeks at the Azov Steel Plant in Mariupol.

Lubomyr Melnyk has visited Copenhagen on several occasions, including performances at Jazzhouse, Frost Festival, and most recently at Christians Kirke, presented by ALICE. As his music extensively uses overtones, he is a pianist who plays with the surrounding space, making each concert unique. When ALICE presents Lubomyr Melnyk in the beautiful spaces of Glyptoteket this spring, there is a guarantee of a meditative and spine-tingling musical experience. The concert is presented in collaboration with Glyptoteket.