Croatian pianist Maksim Mrvica will give a recital this week in Nanshan District.

    Mrvica won first prize at the Nikolai Rubinstein International Piano Competition. In 2000, he moved to Paris to study with Igor Lazko and earned first prize in the Pontoise Piano Competition in 2001.

    He recorded 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.

    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.

    Mrvica has performed in a couple of international beauty pageants and MTV awards.

    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)