Mariana Gurkova

The “great artistic sensitivity” and “flawless technique,” combined with “a fluid and highly communicative touch” -in the words of critics – have led this Spanish pianist of Bulgarian origin to perform in prestigious concert venues across all five continents.

She began studying piano at the age of five in Sofia, Bulgaria, her hometown, performing several public concerts with great success a few months later. At the age of ten, she gave her first recital, and at eleven, she performed with an orchestra for the first time, playing Felix Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto nº 1. 

After graduating from Sofia’s Music Institute, she continued her studies at Bulgaria’s National Higher Conservatory under the guidance of Bogomil Starshenov. Additionally, she has participated in advanced courses with Hans Graf, Lev Vlasenko, Leon Fleisher, and Paul Badura-Skoda. Since 1988, she has been residing in Madrid, where she studied at the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música with Joaquín Soriano, who became her professor and mentor, guiding her to a true understanding of the musical art.

Mariana Gurkova has received numerous awards, including first prizes in international competitions such as “Jacinto Guerrero” (Madrid) and “Senigallia” (Italy), as well as in Bulgarian national competitions like “Sv. Obretenov” and “Youth Musical Competitions of Bulgaria.” She has also garnered accolades in international contests, such as second prizes in the “Ettore Pozzoli” competition in Seregno (Italy) and the Jaén International Piano Competition (Spain), and third prizes in the “Paloma O’Shea” International Piano Competition in Santander and the “José Iturbi” International Music Competition in Valencia, among others. Her deep appreciation for Spanish music has been recognized through special awards for the best interpretation of Spanish music in the Santander and José Iturbi competitions.

Performing in Spain’s most prestigious concert halls, such as the National Auditorium in Madrid, Palau de la Música in Valencia, Cantabria’s Festival Palace, Zaragoza Auditorium, and Murcia Auditorium, she has offered an extensive solo repertoire, including more than thirty-five piano and orchestra works. Her international career has included recitals and concerts in Bulgaria, France, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Greece, Czechoslovakia, the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, India, Japan, Australia, and South Africa. She has recorded for radio and television including RAI, RTVE, Radio Melbourne, Radio Yokohama, and Bulgarian National Radio. She has collaborated with prestigious orchestras such as the Kiev Philharmonic, New Japan Philharmonic, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, RTVE Symphony Orchestra, Prague Chamber Orchestra, Rubinstein Philharmonic of Poland, Sofia Philharmonic, Pilsen Radio Symphony Orchestra, RAI-Milan Symphony Orchestra, Moravian Philharmonic, Timișoara Philharmonic, Valencia Symphony Orchestra, the Hermitage Chamber Orchestra, Andrés Segovia Orchestra, and all major Bulgarian orchestras.

She has performed under the baton of eminent conductors, including S. Comissiona, Ph. Entremont, R. Stankovski, G. Kostin, A. Rahbari, E. García Asensio, M. Galduf, A. Soriano, T. Mikelsen, A. Natanek, E. Bauer, G. Pehlivanian, and others.

Her discography features works by Bach, Haydn, Liszt, Chopin, P. Soler, Albéniz, Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, M. Franco, and M. Martínez Burgos, among others. Her interpretation and recording of Chopin’s complete Etudes have been highly praised by both audiences and critics. 

Currently, Mariana combines her performing career with teaching, offering courses, masterclasses. She is a piano chair professor at the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música in Madrid.

Website: www.marianagurkova.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@marianagurkova1

“The concert featured a beautiful, expressive, and virtuosic performance by the remarkable Bulgarian-Spanish artist Mariana Gurkova, who, drawing on her natural gifts and acquired perfection, created vibrant and captivating music.”
EL PAIS

“Mariana Gurkova possesses impeccable technique, yet she is also a deeply sensitive artist, with a profound musical sense and an extraordinary ability to shape the sound, adjusting both power and tonal quality to the precise moment of the interpretation.”
EL MUNDO

Mariana Gurkova is endowed with an enviable mechanical dexterity coupled with a fluid and very communicative touch. She rose to the formidable challenge of performing Chopin’s 24 Études in concert with remarkable ease and confidence.”
Revista RITMO

“Mariana conquered the Prokofiev, seamlessly juxtaposing the brief lyrical interludes with her command of technical bravura. Even more remarkable was her interpretation of Liszt, delivered with both power and a compelling sense of rhythm.”
THE TIMES OF INDIA

“Mariana possesses an innate sensitivity, an exceptional sense of expression, an artistic temperament she masters effortlessly and a consummate professionalism.”
NARODNA CULTURA

“Mariana Gurkova stands out for her confidence, endowed with an incredible interpretative ability and exceptional qualities.”
CORRIERE DI MONZA I BRIANZA

“A display of pianistic technique, musical genius, creative sensitivity and mastery of the art.”
EL MUNDO