AVIER LIÉBANA CASTILLO – SILENT FILM WITH LIVE PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT

Silent film with live piano accompaniment.

The Spanish piano virtuoso is considered one of the most outstanding young improvisers in the world. His work focuses on improvisational concerts in Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionist, and other 20th-century styles. His performances include completing unfinished works by Mozart and Beethoven, performing improvised ornamentations, and improvised cadenzas.

In 2024, he received the Bourse Gäel Liardon award at the Festival de Musique Improviseè de Lausanne in Switzerland—the world’s first classical improvisation festival—for his contribution to the study of cadenzas in the classical style, with a special focus on Mozart and piano concerto repertoire. He is dedicated to reviving the practice of improvisation connected to the existing Classical piano repertoire and is also passionate about historical instruments and performance practices.

He was the first pianist to present a fully improvised concert in the Classical style, improvising various preludes and fantasies based on audience suggestions and completing unfinished fragments of W. A. Mozart. Among his notable projects is his work as a silent film improviser, accompanying many popular films by Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and W.F. Murnau on piano.

He graduated in piano at ESMUC in Barcelona under Prof. Ramón Coll. He furthered his studies through masterclasses with renowned pianists and has received several awards (Ibercaja, BBVA, Aragonese Government). In 2017, he earned a doctorate with honors in art history and musicology from the University of Oviedo.

Initially self-taught in improvisation, he later studied with Juan de la Rubia, Karst de Jong, and jazz piano with Manel Camp. He completed a master’s degree in piano improvisation with Dr. Noam Sivan at HMDK Stuttgart, graduating with the highest honors.

As a teacher, he has over 14 years of experience at prestigious Spanish and European institutions. Since 2019, he has taught improvisation and coaching at CSMN.

Atelje Šempeter is a space where art and entrepreneurship meet. Founded through collaboration between painter Klemen Brun and art patron Štefan Kralj, it hosts numerous projects, exhibitions, and residencies.

Free entrance. Limited seating – reserve by Friday, 4 July 2025, at +386 31 345 833.