Croatian pianist Maksim Mrvica will give a recital in May at Nanshan Cultural and Sports Center.

    Mrvica took up piano lessons at the age of 9. Three years later he gave his first concert performance of Haydn’s “Piano Concerto in C Major.” When war broke out in 1991, both Mrvica and his professor were determined that it would not disrupt his music studies. In spite of the war and surrounding turbulence, Mrvica won his first major competition in Zagreb in 1993.

    Mrvica went on to study at the Music Academy in Zagreb and then spent a year at the Franz Liszt Conservatoire in Budapest. During that time, he won first prize at the Nikolai Rubinstein International Piano Competition. In 2000, he moved to Paris to study with Igor Lazko and earned the first prize in the Pontoise Piano Competition in 2001.

    He soon found himself recording his first CD, “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 invited to officiate the Porin Award Ceremony, an honor not usually granted to a classical artist.

    Soon after, Mrvica was spotted by the musician, author and manager Tonci Huljic, who composed several tracks for the crossover string quartet Bond, and it was Huljic who put Mrvica in touch with British impresario Mel Bush. EMI Classics was also interested in Mrvica and soon a new album was underway. This album was “The Piano Player,” which put a new spin on compositions by Handel and Chopin. Since its release in 2003, it has been very successful, particularly in Asia. It was also in the No. 1 slot on the HMV international pop chart in Hong Kong for 12 consecutive weeks.

    Under Bush’s management, Mrvica’s performances generally take place against a backdrop of special lighting, stage and video effects.

    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. Mrvica’s Piece “Exodus” was also used as the floor music for Russian artistic gymnast Anna Pavlova in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

    Time: 8 p.m., May 27

    Tickets: 280-1,080 yuan

    Reservation: 400-185-8666

    Venue: Nanshan Cultural and Sports Center, 2106 Nanshan Boulevard (南山大道2106号南山文体中心)

    Metro: Luobao Line, Taoyuan Station (桃园站), Exit B(SD News)