A Wanderer's Musical Diary by Sarshar Ghozat

During this concert at Wintercircus, Sarshar will perform both his own piano compositions as well as works by Chopin and Beethoven. As a finale, he will treat the audience to Beethoven Recomposed, his original cadenza for Beethoven’s 3rd Piano Concerto, adding a modern twist to Beethoven's classic melodies.

The concert will be played on the  'Generative Piano', a piano-driven audiovisual installation at Wintercircus by generative artist and musician Simon Alexander-Adams (aka Polyhop.) The piece generates real-time abstract visuals drawing directly on live piano performance data analysis.  It seeks to evoke painterly qualities through the digital medium, while leveraging organic motion derived from emergent systems such as flocking. 

The Program:

• Chopin - Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2
• Sarshar Ghozat - Budapest Waltz
• Sarshar Ghozat - Colours
• Chopin - Nocturne Op. 55 No. 1
• Sarshar Ghozat - Katarzyna
• Beethoven - Pathetique Sonata, 2nd movement
• Chopin - Nocturne Op. 55 No. 2
• George Crumb - Dream Images
• Sarshar Ghozat - April Afternoon
• Sarshar Ghozat - Peace Within
• Chopin - Waltz Op. 64 No. 2
• Sarshar Ghozat - Beethoven Recomposed (Original Cadenza for Beethoven's 3rd Piano Concerto)

Biography

Sarshar is a 25-year-old pianist and composer, born in Tehran. At the age of 16, he embarked on a courageous journey, moving to Budapest on his own to pursue his musical dreams. In the city of Bartók and Liszt, he continued to develop his musical talents, though his heart has always been with the music of Chopin. Between 2016 and 2020, he studied classical piano at the Budapest Conservatory, where he also composed music for theater and dance productions.

In 2020, Sarshar continued his studies in Ghent, completing his Bachelor's degree under the guidance of Keiko Shichijo and now studies with Vitaly Samoshko. His exceptional talent has earned him numerous awards in international piano and composition competitions, including the prestigious title of Most Significant Musician as Piano Composer during the IBLA International Piano Music Competition in New York.

In 2022, his original string quartet was performed by his friends from Italy during the Ghent Festival at the Saint Jacob's Church, alongside solo piano pieces by Sarshar and works by Chopin. This performance completely captivated the audience.

In 2023, he gave a sold-out recital at the Antonin Palace in Poland, entirely dedicated to the music of Chopin, with his own compositions performed as encores. This concert highlighted his deep connection to the great composer.

In 2024, he concluded the concert series at the Jacobus Cultuurkerk during the Ghent Festival, where his own compositions received a standing ovation from the audience.

Sarshar has followed in Chopin's footsteps by performing at historical venues where the great composer once played, such as the Antonin Palace and the Polish Institute on Île Saint-Louis, Paris. His concerts in Paris, Poland, and Budapest showcase not only his technical mastery but also his profound personal connection to the timeless music of the composers who inspire him.