NATCHITOCHES – Pianist and acclaimed recording engineer and producer Dr. Sergei Kvitko will present a recital at Northwestern State University on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. A livestream will be available at capa.nsula.edu/livestream.
Kvitko was the producer of three CDs for Northwestern State Professor of Piano Dr. Andrej Kurti.
Kvitko’s career is as diverse as it is successful. As a pianist, Kvitko has captured the attention of music critics with his “polished pianism… glorious Horowitzian three-dimensional perspective” (Gramophone Magazine), “masterful, intuitive playing… arresting artistry… an iconoclastic sense for rubato rhythm and phrasing” (Fanfare Magazine) and has been praised for his “luminous touch… warm, round sound… plenty of brilliance” as well as “a natural, appealing musicality and sensual understanding of piano tone” (The Chronicle-Herald). American Record Guide placed his recording of Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” “among the best ever made” and included it on its coveted Critics’ Choice List. His critically acclaimed 2021 CD “Mozart. Post Scriptum” with Madrid Soloists Chamber Orchestra was praised as “an absolute explosion of creativity for Mr. Kvitko” (EarRelevant, Atlanta). In 2013, Kvitko made his New York City debut with a solo recital at Carnegie Hall that “was met with rousing applause, bravos, and a standing ovation” (New York Concert Review). He made solo, chamber and orchestral appearances in the United States, Canada, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Austria, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
As a composer he gathered multiple awards for his incidental music for the production of Steven Dietz’s play “Dracula.” Lawrence Cosentino of City Pulse wrote: “Kvitko wove a borderline insane level of care and sophistication into every bar of his score even when you can barely hear it,” and Fanfare Magazine called it “a well-conceived, executed, and imaginative score… entertaining, powerful, witty.” Other compositions include incidental music for Tennessee Williams’ play “The Glass Menagerie” as well as many transcriptions and arrangements. His cadenzas for Mozart’s “Concerto in D Minor” were called “spectacular, to say the least” (Pizzicato Magazine Germany).
What makes Kvitko’s career truly unique is that his artistic accomplishments are balanced by his reputation as an internationally sought-after classical recording engineer and producer of the highest caliber, declared by Fanfare Magazine as “one of the best in the business,” and dubbed a “recording wizard” by New York Concert Review. Gramophone Magazine stated that “as engineer, he makes magic,” while American Record Guide praised his work as a ”consistent stream of exceptionally enjoyable recordings.” He is a Latin Grammy-nominated producer in Best Classical Album category. His recording of Carter Pann’s piece “Mechanics” was a finalist for Pulitzer Prize in Music. CDs produced and engineered by Sergei Kvitko have been favorably reviewed by national and international publications such as Fanfare Magazine, BBC Music, Flute World, Clarinet Magazine, Clavier, Percussion and Strings Magazine among many others, earning praises such as “superbly well recorded” (International Record Guide, UK), “vividly detailed, vibrant sonics” (Gramophone, UK), “beautifully balanced and warmly atmospheric” (Gramophone, UK), “the recording is close to ideal – rich, but clear, truthful and immediate” (American Record Guide), “larger-than-life recording that sounds fabulous at virtually any volume level” (Strings Magazine), “warm and immediate sound” (The Strad).
Kvitko was born in Russia and began studying music at the age of six. After receiving the highest musical education there, he came to the United States to pursue a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Michigan State University, where he studied with Ralph Votapek. He is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (GRAMMY).
