Croatian pianist Maksim Mrvica will give a recital in December.

    Mrvica studied at the Music Academy in Zagreb and then spent a year at the Franz Liszt Conservatoire in Budapest. He won first prize at the Nikolai Rubinstein International Piano Competition and 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’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., Dec. 6

    Tickets: 280-1,080 yuan

    Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, intersection of Hongli Road and Yitian Road, Futian District (福田区红荔路和益田路交汇处深圳音乐厅)

    Metro: Longhua or Longgang Line, Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit D(SD News)