“Makedonissimo”, meaning “very Macedonian”, sees Macedonian pianist Simon Trpčeski take a detour from Beethoven and Brahms to celebrate the music of his homeland, Macedonia. Trpčeski takes listeners on a joyous tour through the incredible rhythms and haunting melodies of the Macedonian folk music tradition in which highly intricate, jazz-influenced riffs and harmonies are seamlessly interwoven.

Inspired by Trpčeski’s passion for the folk traditions of his homeland, Macedonian composer Pande Shahov (b. 1973), in collaboration with Trpčeski, created a six-movement cycle he called Pletenki (‘Plaits’). In these new arrangements Shahov merges his own sound world – one which is influenced by impressionist attitudes to resonance and jazz harmony – with Macedonia’s traditional music.

This project had its world premiere in May 2017 at the Ludwigsburg Festival, Germany, and went on to wow audiences in the UK (London, Liverpool, Birmingham), Slovenia (Ljubljana), France (Lille), Poland (Warsaw, Szczecin, Gdansk, Katowice), the Netherlands (Amsterdam), Serbia (Belgrade), Montenegro (Bar), Romania (Cluj) and South Korea (Jeongseon, Wonju, Chuncheon). Led by Trpčeski on piano, the quintet of virtuosi musicians comprises Hidan Mamudov (clarinet, saxophone, kaval), Aleksandar Krapovski (violin), Alexander Somov (cello) and Vlatko Nushev (percussion).

Born in Macedonia, pianist Simon Trpčeski was a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist and was honoured with the Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist Award in 2003. Trpčeski regularly gives solo recitals in New York, Paris, Munich, São Paulo, Prague, Sydney, Beijing, Tokyo and London, where he was recently Artist-in-Residence at Wigmore Hall. He has performed at prestigious festivals including Verbier, Bergen, Baltic Sea and BBC Proms. Trpčeski is also a committed chamber musician, appearing with his regular duo partner Daniel Müller-Schott. He is the pianist and founder of the Makedonissimo Quintet and with the special support of KulturOp works regularly with young musicians in Macedonia to cultivate the country’s next generation of artists.

“The effect is magical ... Bartók would have loved it all. This group should come back.” – The Independent

“...the recurring melody, which winds around the individual voices like a band, is decorated in the highest virtuosity by each instrument. What stands out is the intense communication of the musicians.” – Niusic