Olga Scheps (born 4 January 1986) is a German pianist, who currently resides in Cologne, Germany.
Biography
1986–2001: Early life and career beginnings
Scheps was born on 4 January 1986, in Moscow and came to Germany at the age of six. Influenced by the musical surroundings of her family, especially of her father Ilya Scheps (a pianist and professor at the Aachen section of the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln) she began piano lessons at the age of four.[1]
Her active concert work started at the age of twelve when already calling attention to herself by winning several first prizes at the German competitions Jugend musiziert in 1999 and Jugend spielt Klassik in 2001. At the age of 14, she debuted with orchestra at the concert series Junge Elite with Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 1 at the Tonhalle Düsseldorf, followed by recitals in the concert series Best of NRW and The Next Generation at Harenberg City Center Dortmund.[2]
Scheps signed her first exclusive recording contract with RCA Red Seal (Sony Music). Her debut CD Chopin in 2010 was well received in the German press.[4] On 17 October 2010, she subsequently earned her first ECHO Klassik Award as Newcomer of the Year (Piano) for her debut at the Philharmonie Essen.[5] She released her second album with works by Russian composers in the autumn of 2010. In September 2012, Scheps presented her third album Schubert.[4]
A passionate chamber performer, Scheps has collaborated with violinists Daniel Hope and Erik Schumann, cellists Adrian Brendel, Alban Gerhardt and Jan Vogler, and violist Nils Mönkemeyer.[1]
Scheps describes playing the piano "To me, music is an extension of my expressivity, the amplification of my language. The score is predetermined, but I am the interpreter. It is like acting – like the work of an actress who follows a script."
Her repertoire includes many classical works for solo recitals and also piano concertos. Notably, it contains her interpretation of the music of the Romanticism, in particular the works of Russian composers, as well as Frédéric Chopin.[4] She is particularly known for her performances as a crystal clear romanticist[6] who delivers a teary-eyed and emotional performance to the audience at her concerts.[7]
She also performs less known repertoire such as Arvo Pärt's Lamentate, Dvořák's Piano Concerto, and Liszt's Malediction.
Chopin Nocturene (EP version) with a cellist Raphaela Gromes
Awards
ECHO Klassik as "Newcomer of the Year (Piano)" for Chopin (2010)
In the media
In the realm of marketing, Scheps became an attractive brand ambassador. Since 2011 she has been a brand ambassador for Audi,[8] and the Swiss-based luxury company Chopard.[9] Scheps is the face of German women's magazine COVER which was printed for the first time on 18 August 2012.[10] She was invited to many TV Shows in Germany such as ZDF Morgenmagazin, "Klein gegen Groß" with Kai Pflaume, DAS! NDR rote Sofa, Kölner Treff, "Kleine Nachtmusik" with Götz Alsmann, and Stefan Raab's "TV Total".
