Peter Vanhove (Belgium) studied at the Conservatory of Brussels and Maastricht where he obtained a Master degree and the “Performance Diploma” for piano. He became the first-classified finalist of the “Concorso Pianistico Europeo” in Ostuni (Italy), with Lazar Berman as chairman of the jury, and he won the first prize of the “Concorso Internazionale per giovani interpreti” (Switzerland). He also received a special “Brahms Prize” at the “Concorso Internazionale Città di Lodi” (Italy). In Belgium, he is a graduate of the Axion Classics Contest, organized by Belfius Bank.
He has performed recitals at numerous festivals and concert halls. In the field of chamber music, he has a duo with his brother Theo Vanhove, solo clarinet of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège, and a piano duo with pianist Jan Vande Weghe.
From an early age he was attracted to Lied and he worked with several singers.
He has a warm affection with composers of his country of whom he has been recording several works by now. Fascinated by bringing forgotten music to life again, he has also recorded lesser known pieces from a famous composer as Georges Bizet. All of these CD’s have been enthusiastically acclaimed by the press (Diapason, BBC Music Magazine, Luister, Crescendo):
His first CD Flemish Romantic and Impressionist Piano Music (Pavane ADW 7463) was enthusiastically acclaimed by the press.
“The combination of his refreshing approach and magnificent technique makes this recording utterly remarkable. One has no hesitation in speaking of a revelation…….our first acquaintance with this young musician is a genuine discovery” (M&W)
“4* for Performance and 4* for Sound” (BBC Music Magazine)
“L’album permet de découvrir autant des partitions jamais enregistrées qu’un jeune pianiste dont le jeu timbré, les phrasés élégants, l’art évocateur porté par un toucher ample font merveille dans ce répertoire” (Diapason)
With his CD with unknown Piano Works of Georges Bizet (Pavane ADW 7515), he again received favorable reviews:
L'enregistrement du jeune pianiste belge Peter Vanhove s'impose d'emblée par son élégance, son jeu large et admirablement timbré. (4 diapasons in Diapason)
Le jeune pianiste, Peter Vanhove, nous rend la clarté et la luminosité de ces œuvres qui coulent de source. Sa technique sert merveilleusement les différents effets pianistiques que Bizet met dans ces compositions "pour les rendre compréhensibles par le public", suivant son credo musical. (a 10 from Crescendo)
Peter Vanhove serves all this on self-evident natural and convincing manner. Charming, compelling, with panache and light-footed, with a touch of melancholy. Never overloaded pathetic but finely dosed, with subtle nuances and the occasional inevitable dramatic key. Musical seduction art is this. (Jaak Van Holen, Flanders Art Magazine)
The extremely high standard and refined legato phrasing that pianist Peter Vanhove in this music expresses delight from the first notes of the CD. It’s an album that deserves attention.
(Steven De Waele, Kwadratuur)
His CD When the Soul Listens (Pavane ADW 7547), also features some Flemish songs with the Ukrainian countertenor and Leeds prize winner Yuriy Mynenko. It was awarded with a Golden Label by ‘Klassiek Centraal’.
His CD A Bouquet of Forgotten Flowers (Phaedra In Flanders’ Fields 84) with bas-bariton Werner Van Mechelen is awarded with a Special "Orphée d'Or" from the French Académie du Disque Lyrique
For his efforts in the field of Flemish repertoire, Peter received the Fuga Trophy of the Union of Belgian Composers.
Recently Peter’s performance of Lodewijk Mortelmans work was nominated in the ‘Radio Klara Top 100’, a list of the Flemish radio Klara where the public could choose most beautiful classic works of the year.
His new album (double CD) GOUNOD & Compagnie (Pavane ADW 7595), with works by Charles Gounod and French Piano Music from the Parisian Salons period received already a nice review in International Piano Magazine (UK) and in Diapason (France)