Reviews

“As it proceeds around Beethoven's unyielding frames, Bijelovic's performance is, by acute turns, fierce, pathetic and ecstatic. There are moments where he takes brief liberties with the rhythm to emphasise an expression or motivic arch, but these are the idiosyncrasies that mark the performance with a clear authenticity.”

Joe Musicology (commenting on Beethoven’s Op. 57, the "Appassionata")

Chopin’s Ballade no.1 … has a haunting tenderness which Bijelovic hints at even through the later, more bravura passages. There is a fluency and delicacy to the decoration and again a feeling of impulsiveness.

Though Bijelovic plays with a finely graded, poetic tone, there is a toughness there too and the feeling that passion can explode in a moment. Bijelovic combines discipline and poetry in his playing with and admirable tendency not to grandstand…

Finally Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in a performance which typifies everything that we have heard so far, crisp rhythmic precision, rich drama and a wonderful impulsiveness which brings Liszt’s fantasy on Hungarian gypsy music to rich life.

Robert Hughill, Planet Hughill

So, this a box of candy, no doubt, and one created with care and great skill. And while there's nothing here to challenge the seasoned listener, if you've never heard some of the greatest and best-known piano pieces ever written, I envy you the experience of sitting down with this CD for the first time. I'm willing to bet that when it's finished you'll start it all over again. Sit back and enjoy.

Paul Austin Kelly, Lewes Classical

Viktor Bijelovic's new recording Empassioned, is an inspiring and innovative achievement. He combines his beautiful and thought provoking performances of well known works with fascinating explanations of the works included. All of this comes together to make a great listen which I thoroughly recommend." 

Jack Liebeck, Violinist Classical Brit Award Winner

An album about passion, played with passion.

Caroline Jowett, Daily Express

The Ballade is beautifully flowing with a lovely feeling for line. The Grande Valse Brillante, Op. 34 no. 1 opens with a nice call to action and then Bijelovic spins cascades of notes in the delicate waltz. The playing is poetic but not etiolated, and delightfully skittish. Valse, Op. 34 no. 2 is entirely different to its companion, Bijelovic opens with some velvety smooth playing which develops into melancholy languor.

In Nocturne No. 20, Op. Posth we get hints of the exotic amongst the fine tracery of notes, all controlled with subtle rubato. The Valse Op. 64 no. 1 is all lightness, charm and grace with its companion, Op. 64 no. 2 beautifully poetic.

Bijelovic's account of the Polonaise Op. 53 brings out the work's heel clicking grandeur, combined with nicely infectious and well pointed rhythms. His own arrangement of Handel's Arrival of the Queen of Sheba…is a complete delight.

Robert Hughill, Planet Hughill

Viktor, Victorious

The sound of Bijelovic's prodigious piano playing blended beautifully with Filipczak's violin as they took us through the four movements of the sonata. From the outset, both the musical choices and Bijelovic's style proved that he was an incredibly generous performer. The first two movements of this sonata require the piano to take an accompanying role as the violin is placed at the forefront. Bijelovic's opportunities to take centre-stage and show off his talents came soon enough, but he was a performer unafraid to let others shine. This made for both an exceptional and an endearing concert: it was hard not to be wrapped up in and be lifted by the music…

Bijelovic is a performer at the height of his powers and an hour in his company shows how glorious classical music can be.

Alasdair Richardson, CDBaby

Guests took their seats in the Symposium Hall to hear a piano recital of the works of Chopin and Liszt by Viktor Bijelovic, whose technical mastery and sensitivity in the interpretation prompted a standing ovation from the audience.

Surgeons News

Viktor Bijelovic made his second visit to Farley by popular request. Here was a fantastic display of the utmost excitement and virtuosity. His Chopin waltzes had everybody wanting to get up and dance, the Heroic Polonaise thundered and the third Ballade received a dramatic interpretation.

Richard Godfrey, Salisbury Journal