Maksim Mrvica 1144143 move=:edit= 221266705 2008-06-23T19:51:06Z 190.16.216.83 /* External links */ {{Infobox musical artist |Img=Replace this image male.svg <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people - see [[WP:NONFREE]] --> | | Name = Maksim | Background = classical_ensemble | Birth_name = Maksim Mrvica | alias = | Born = {{birth date and age|1975|5|3}} | Origin = [[Šibenik]], [[Croatia]] (formerly [[Yugoslavia]]) | Died = | Instrument = [[Piano]] | Genre = [[Classical music|Classical]] [[crossover (music)|Crossover]] / [[Techno]]-Classical | Occupation = [[Pianist]] | Labels = Lisinski Studios / [[EMI Music]] | Years_active = 1999-present }} '''Maksim Mrvica''' (pronounced "MER-vitsa"<ref>[http://maksimmrvica.com/content/shortprofile.php MaksimMrvica.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>) (born [[May 3]], [[1975]] in [[Šibenik]], [[SR Croatia]], [[Yugoslavia]]) is a popular [[pianist]] from Croatia. == History == Mrvica took up [[piano]] lessons from the age of nine from Marija Sekso and gave his first public performance in the same year. Just three years later he gave his first concert performance of [[Joseph Haydn|Haydn]]’s [[Piano Concerto in C major (Haydn)|Piano Concerto in C major]]. When war broke out in 1991, both Mrvica and his professor were determined that this would not disrupt his music studies. In spite of the war and surrounding turbulence, Mrvica entered in, and won, his first major competition in [[Zagreb]] in 1993. Mrvica went on to study at the Music Academy in Zagreb where he spent five years under Professor [[Vladimir Krpan]], who himself was a pupil of [[Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli]]. He then spent a year at the [[Franz Liszt]] Conservatoire in [[Budapest]] and during this year he won first prize at the [[Nicolai Rubinstein]] International Piano Competition. In 2000, he moved to [[Paris]] to study with Igor Lazko and gained first prize in the [[Pontoise Piano Competition]] in 2001. When he returned to Croatia he found himself to be the focus of intense media interest and he made frequent television appearances as well as giving a great number of interviews. He soon found himself recording his first CD, ''[[Gestures (album)|Gestures]]'', an album of contemporary Croatian piano pieces. ''Gestures'' became one of the fastest-selling classical recordings to be released in Croatia, and Mrvica was even invited to officiate the Porin award ceremony, an honour not usually granted to a classical artist. == International appeal == Soon after this launch Mrvica was spotted by the musician, author and manager [[Tonči Huljić]], who composed several tracks for the crossover string quartet, [[Bond (band)|Bond]], and it was Tonči who put Mrvica in touch with British impresario [[Mel Bush]]. Mel had, by chance, been looking for a new pianist for some time and he recognised Maksim's potential to appeal to a wide range of audiences. [[EMI]] Classics was also interested in Mrvica and soon a new album was underway. This album was ''[[The Piano Player (album)|The Piano Player]]'', which gave a new spin to compositions by [[George Frideric Handel|Handel]] and [[Frédéric Chopin|Chopin]]. Since its release in 2003 it has been very successful, particularly in Asia, where it has achieved Gold status in [[Singapore]], [[Malaysia]], [[Indonesia]] and [[China]], Platinum in [[Taiwan]] and Croatia and Double Platinum in [[Hong Kong]]. It was also in the number 1 slot in the HMV international pop chart in Hong Kong for twelve consecutive weeks. Mrvica has performed in a couple of international beauty pageants and [[MTV]] awards. His image and charisma also attracted the interest of global brands such as [[American Express]], who sponsored him in Singapore, and automobile giants [[Chevrolet]] and [[BMW]], for whom he performed at their respective [[Colombia]]n and Malaysian car launches. == Adaptations and arrangements == There is a Chinese lyrical version added to the non-lyrical song of Maksim Mrvica's "Claudine". This musical piece was sung and written by singer [[Edmond Leung]] from Hong Kong. According to [http://www.boxup.com Boxup.com], Edmond was so captivated by Maksim's performance of "Claudine" that he asked Maksim's permission to do a lyrical version in Cantonese. Soon after in 2004, their collaboration produced the bittersweet ballad called "Xin Wang Ai" ("Trust in Love"). == Trivia == {{Trivia|date=January 2008}} * Maksim's favorite color is black. Also, on almost every one of his (world tour) [[concerts]] or piano [[performances]], his [[attire]] is black. * So far, Maksim owns 3 pianos and one [[electronic keyboard]] for [[recording]] purposes at home. The first was a [[grand piano]] acquired in [[London]], [[United Kingdom]], and is the same piano on which he performed his first piano concert before his world tour. The other two pianos are a custom grand piano, and a Petrof [[upright piano]] on which he used to play with when he was younger. * His favorite piano makers are [[Fazioli]] & [[Steinway]]<ref>[http://maksimmrvica.com/content/alphabet.php MaksimMrvica.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> * His daughter's name is [[Leeloo]]. Her name is taken from a character in the film ''[[The Fifth Element]]'' and she is the inspiration for the [[Song|track]] "[[Leeloo's tune]]" in his [[album]] ''[[Variations Part I&II]]''. == Music videos == Maksim has music videos for The Gypsy Maid, New World Concerto, Somewhere In Time, Nostradamus; directed by Tony van den Ende, Kolibre; directed by Tony van den Ende, Exodus, Olympic Dream ,The Flight of the Bumble Bee, Prelude in C, Anthem, Hungarian Rhapsody number 2 and Child in Paradise. == Discography == ===Albums=== *1999 &ndash; ''Gestures (album)'' (Lisinski Studios) *2003 &ndash; ''[[The Piano Player (album)|The Piano Player]]'' (EMI) *2004 &ndash; ''[[Variations Part I&II]]'' (EMI) *2005 &ndash; ''[[A New World]]'' (EMI) *2006 &ndash; ''[[Electrik]]'' (EMI) *2007 &ndash; ''[[Pure (Maksim album)|Pure]]'' (MBO) *2008 &ndash; ''[[Pure II]]'' (MBO) *2008 &ndash; ''[[Greatest Maksim]]'' (EMI) Pure II has now has been released. The original ‘Pure’ album has been discontinued due to contractual obligations.<ref>[http://maksim.co.uk/news/index.htm maksim.co.uk<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> == References == <references/> == External links == *[http://www.maksim.co.uk/ Official site of Maksim] *[http://maksimworld.com/ MaksimWorld] *[http://www.fullscores.com/ Maksim free sheet music downloads] *[http://www.musiccorner.co.uk/p107417/Maksim-Mrvica,-music-by-Tonci-Huljic/product_info.html Maksim sheet music book by Tonci Huljic] *[http://maksim.org.cn/bbs/ Maksim Mrvica China Fans Club] {{DEFAULTSORT:Mrvica, Maxim}} [[Category:1975 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Croatian classical pianists]] [[de:Maksim Mrvica]] [[fr:Maksim Mrvica]] [[hr:Maksim Mrvica]] [[ja:マクシム・ムルヴィツァ]] [[sk:Maksim Mrvica]] [[tr:Maksim Mrvica]] [[zh:马克西姆·姆尔维察]]