Keren Hanan, Greek-Israeli and internationally acclaimed concert pianist and artist, has given recitals and performed with leading orchestras throughout the world.
As a chamber musician, Karen has taken part in the Sunday Chamber Music Series of the Budapest Festival Orchestra, the New Chamber Music Series of the Israeli Philharmonic and the Pharos Festival in Cyprus. (Eastern Mediterranean). 
As a Steinway artist, she collaborates with well-known cellist Steven Isserlis. Keren has given recitals in New York, Boston, Rome, London, Budapest, Vietnam and China. At the age of 15, she appeared as soloist with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. (One of Keren's paintings is on display on the wall behind the piano.)
In the last few years, she performed with the Budapest Festival Orchestra, the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra (New York), the Belgrade Philharmonic (Serbia) and with conductor Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. In May 2007, Keren performed with the Dohnanyi Orchestra in a special event for the State of Israel at the Palace of Arts (Budapest). In 2008, she played and conducted a string orchestra in Budapest.
We have been looking forward to Keren's concert all summer and each time she comes to the Jerusalem Center, she drops in to see me when I am at the organ for a tour or in my office. It's been such a privilege to become personally acquainted with her. She is beautiful in every way, warm and personable and has an inner light that shines from within.
This past Sunday evening, she gave a phenomenal concert and we have been riding high ever since. Her skill of the piano is impeccable and the emotion she expresses on the ivories takes the listener to a higher dimension. As I listened, my heart was filled with joy and her sensitivity of the music was absolutely magical!
When you meet this beautiful young woman, she radiates a warmth that cannot be denied. She is extremely approachable and humble about her genius musical ability, not to mention so many accomplishments, and always made me feel completely comfortable to be around her.
When you meet this beautiful young woman, she radiates a warmth that cannot be denied. She is extremely approachable and humble about her genius musical ability, not to mention so many accomplishments, and always made me feel completely comfortable to be around her.  |
| Every week Garth welcomes the audience and introduces each musician. He also makes sure we have a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers for each concert and sets up the Green Room. |
Keren has been playing piano since the age of eight. She began studying with Hanna Shalgi and continued her studies with the renowned Pnina Salzman, Israeli classical pianist and teacher of piano pedagogue.
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Keren's mother listened intently as her daughter performed and I could imagine how proud she was as she sat in the audience. I am sure Keren would agree that much of her success was partly due to her mother's continual loving support. Whenever I see a successful musician, I know there was someone standing close behind who gave them strength and encouragement. Being a concert pianist is a sacrifice, not to mention life-long focus and dedication to reach the highest level of achievement.
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The backdrop and lights of the Old City was spectacular! The audience was comprised of many of Keren's piano students, friends and Israelis. |
Keren opened the concert with Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14 in C# Minor. Her beautiful gown was sewn by a talented seamstress, her mother.
In her teenage years, Keren was the recipient of various national awards and received many scholarships from the American-Israel Foundation. At the age of 17, she moved to Boston and continued her studies at the New England Conservatory, then to Tel Aviv (Israel) and subsequently in Italy. She studied under reknown teachers such as: What Kyang Byun; Prof. Aire Vardi; Franco Scala and Antonio Ballista.
Her performance of Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23, by Chopin, was spectacular!
The audience was enthralled with her wonderful performance.
After a brilliant performance of Liszt's Sposalizio and Rachmaninoff's Six Moments Musicaux, Op. 16, the audience cheered and clapped for an encore and many gave her a standing ovation. What a concert and what a special gift to everyone who attended . . . an even greater appreciate for musicians like her who dedicate their lives to share their God-given talents with so many. We left with a feeling of joy that would sustain us all week.
Currently, Keren resides in Israel but lived in Budapest from 2004 to 2014 where she studied with the legendary piano teacher,
Ference Rados, who has taught some the world's most prominent pianists.
Keren is not only a famous pianist but also an established artist and has had exhibitions across the globe. Her renowned work has reached private collections in New York, London and Budapest.
Keren expresses the deep emotions evoked by various musical pieces as she visualizes and expresses the sensations and tenor captured by music.
Her concept of “Music in Colors” was introduced in various occasions
including two TEDx talks she gave in Budapest and Thessaloniki.
In 2012, she was chosen to represent Hungary at Art Market Budapest. In May 2013, she opened the 1st Art Macao with concert and lecture while displaying her paintings.
After a brilliant performance, Karen took her guests to the Art Exhibit so they could see her wonderful paintings.
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| A huge full of love from her mother. |
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| Keren with one of her piano students. What a lucky girl! |
Everyone was eager to express feelings of gratitude for such a magnificent performance!
Keren's work is held in private collections in New York, London,
Tel Aviv, Bologna, Vienna and Budapest.
"When I paint inspired by a musical piece, it is like a choreography, working with space and time, expressing emotions, the dynamism of a thought, conveying the energy and inner forces that come from the music into a visible medium, a meta communication of a behavior".
"I dream my painting and I paint my dream."
Vincent van Gogh
Her talent as a concert pianist allows her to envision and transpose her
feelings and insight, capturing music in a certain visual form.
“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”
Edgar Degas
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
Pablo Picasso
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." Thomas Merton, "No Man is an Island"
Keren is emotionally attached to each artwork she creates, often providing descriptions of mood, tone, and senses that are translated between both the music and the paintings.
“When I paint inspired by a musical piece, it is like a choreography, working with space and time, expressing emotions, the dynamism of a thought, conveying the inner forces that come from the music, an energy, into a visible medium, a meta-communication of a behavior.” Keren Hanan
Neomi Weinstein (Curator and Director of Concerts) was thrilled
with Karen's musical and artistic achievements.
“Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth.” Pablo Picasso
“The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science.” Albert Einstein
#1: Venus (Oil on canvas) #2: Evolving Takeoff (Oil on canvas) #3: De Produndis (Oil on canvas)
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| Neomi (Director over concerts at JC) and Keren |
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| Kathleen and Keren |
“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.” Leonardo da Vinci
For information: kerenhanan@yahoo.it
Lovely in every dimension!
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