Viktor Čižić

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Bio

Viktor Čižić, born in 1996 in Zagreb, Croatia is a pianist with a dynamic approach to music – from solo and chamber performances to composing and the art of improvisation. Putting a special emphasis on his solo recitals which tend to be fresh and colorful in programming, he has performed both in Europe and in the United States.As a soloist, Viktor has collaborated with numerous renowned orchestras in Croatia, covering a broad repertoire. Among the more traditional works, he has performed Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto with the Zagreb Opera Orchestra, Béla Bartók's 3rd Piano Concerto with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with the Rijeka Symphony Orchestra, and Alfred Schnittke's Concerto for Piano and Strings with the Zagreb Soloists String Orchestra. Additionally, he has collaborated with the Croatian Radiotelevision Tamburitza Orchestra, Croatian Radiotelevision Choir, OMG Orchestra, and Cantus Ensemble, often presenting or premiering unconventional pieces for piano and orchestra by composers such as Zlatko Potočnik, Krešimir Klarić, and Olga Neuwirth. For the 2024/2025 season, he is preparing to premiere a new piano concerto to be composed by Juraj Marko Žerovnik.With a particular fondness for contemporary music in general, Viktor has participated in significant events such as the Music Biennale Zagreb, Days of Milko Kelemen, and the Music Panel – three of Croatia's most prominent contemporary music festivals. Alongside numerous premieres as a soloist, accompanist, or ensemble member, he has also recorded compositions by Croatian composers for Croatian Radio. Active in composition himself, Viktor's original works and arrangements have been performed by various ensembles and artists, including the Astana Opera Orchestra in Kazakhstan, the Croatian Radiotelevision Tamburitza Orchestra, baritone Jurica Jurasić Kapun, pianist Vladimir Babin, clarinetist Sebastijan Sarapa, harpsichordist Franjo Bilić, Turangalila Quartet and Viktor himself.After graduating from the 15th Gymnasium and Vatroslav Lisinski Music School in Zagreb in the class of Branka Fačini-Vrhovski in 2014, Viktor enrolled at the Zagreb Music Academy, studying with Dalibor Cikojević initially, and later with Filip Fak. As part of a student exchange program, he spent a year at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, studying piano with Frank van de Laar and contemporary piano performance with Ralph van Raat. Upon returning to Zagreb, he completed his studies in 2021, presenting a Croatian premiere of Tristan Murail's 2018 piece Cailloux dans l'eau and a world premiere of his own composition, Uncertainty Miniatures for piano, as part of his master recital.Upon graduation, Viktor secured a position as an accompanist and piano collaborator at the Zagreb Academy of Music's Department for Wind Instruments, where he worked with flutists and trumpeters for nearly two years. During this time, he also worked occasionally as a pianist and accompanist in Croatian National Theaters in Zagreb, Rijeka, Osijek, and Varaždin, as well as with numerous orchestras throughout Croatia. During his tenure at the Academy of Music, he was honored with the Yearly Prize of the Society of University Teachers Zagreb. Currently, he is employed as a pianist with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra.

Reviews

"...solo pianist Viktor Čižić distinguished himself with his highly engaged and passionate playing, demonstrating youthful energy..."
- Petra Pavić, glazba.hr"...his performance is so assured, and his approach so effortless and free, that it seemed as if he was playing one of his own compositions..."
- Helena Skljarov, glazba.hr"True virtuosity on the piano was shown by Viktor Čižić, who is technically skilled in all the elements that the composer asks of him, whether it is massive chords, rhythmic complexities, cluster formations or melodic inserts. Čižić's virtuosity cloaked in interpretive musicality dominated the entire performance."
- Mirta Špoljarić, glazba.hr

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Works

2024
The Jazz Notebook, suite for any small jazz ensemble
— Blues and Really? premiered at the JazzHR Festival (Zagreb, Croatia)ARRANGEMENTS
Vehni, vehni fijolica, for baritone and orchestra
— premiered by Jurica Jurasić Kapun and Astana Opera Orchestra, Alan Buribayev conducting (Astana, Kazakhstan, 2024)2023
Kiša (Rain), for choir a cappella (SATB)
String Quartet, for string quartet
Kako je Zora donijela proljeće (How Zora Brought Spring) - incidental music, for flute, tamburitza, violoncello, and piano
— premiered in Zagreb, CroatiaARRANGEMENTS
Dora Pejačević: Life of Flowers, Op. 19, for clarinet, violin, violoncello, and piano
— premiered by Turangalila Quartet (Zagreb, Croatia, 2023)
Gustav Mahler: Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, for baritone, clarinet, violin, violoncello, and piano
— premiered by Jurica Jurasić Kapun and Turangalila Quartet (Zagreb, Croatia, 2023)2022
Improvizacijske igre (Improvisation Games), suite of improvised music for harpsichord and piano
— premiered by Franjo Bilić and myself (Zagreb, Croatia, 2022)ARRANGEMENTS
Alfred Schnittke: Gogol Suite, for harpsichord and piano
— premiered by Franjo Bilić and myself (Zagreb, Croatia, 2022)2021
Uncertainty Miniatures, for piano solo
— premiered by myself (Zagreb, Croatia, 2021)
Prizori iz Prigorske Svadbe (Scenes from the Prigorje Wedding), for baritone and piano
— premiered by Jurica Jurasić Kapun and myself (Čakovec, Croatia, 2021)ARRANGEMENTS
Zlatko Potočnik: Bećarska Mozartkugla (Bećar Mozartkugel), for piano and tamburitza orchestra
— premiered by Croatian Radiotelevision Tamburitza Orchestra, Siniša Leopold conducting, and myself at the piano (Zagreb, Croatia, 2021)
Sergei Prokofiev: Overture on Hebrew Themes for clarinet, violin, violoncello, and piano
— premiered by Turangalila Quartet (Osijek, Croatia, 2021)2020
Konstrukcija glazbe (Construction of Music), for piano and audience
— premiered by myself (Čakovec, Croatia, 2020)
Improvisations on Croatian Folksongs for piano solo
— premiered by myself (Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2020)earlier...
Zagrebačka rapsodija (The Zagreb Rhapsody), for piano solo
— premiered by Vladimir Babin (Zagreb, 2020)

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Why Not Gershwin?

Well, I decided to actually try to record some of the pieces I will be playing in my upcoming Gershwin program, including Rhapsody In Blue, Three Preludes, and a selection of songs - all for solo piano. I named the collection 'In Blue' for, well... reasons.

Also feel free to listen to the recording of my concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. (USA) that I gave last fall which showcases six different Croatian composers.

Also also, my Béla Bartók's 3rd Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in E major with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra and Tomislav Fačini conducting