BACH, J.S.                 
Concerto #1 in d, BWV 1052
BARTÓK                   
Concerto for 2 Pianos                          
BEETHOVEN
Concerto #1 in C, Op. 15
Concerto #3 in c, Op. 37
Concerto #4 in G, Op. 58
Concerto #5 in E-flat, Op. 73 ("Emperor")
Fantasia in c, Op. 80 ("Choral")
BRAHMS                   
Concerto #1 in d, Op. 15
Concerto #2 in B-flat, Op. 83
CHOPIN                    
Andante Spianato & Grande Polonaise, Op. 22
Concerto #2 in f, Op. 21
FALLA                       
Nights in the Gardens of Spain
GERSHWIN               
Concerto in F
Rhapsody in Blue
Second Rhapsody
Variations on I Got Rhythm
GRIEG            
Concerto in a, Op. 16
LISZT
Concerto #1 in E-flat
LISZT-BUSONI         
Rhapsodie espagnole
MENDELSSOHN      
Concerto #1 in g, Op. 25
Concerto in d for Violin & Piano
MOZART                   
Concerto #12 in A, K. 414
Concerto #13 in C, K. 415
Concerto #15 in B-flat, K. 450
Concerto #17 in G, K. 453
Concerto #20 in d, K. 466
Concerto #21 in C, K. 467
Concerto #23 in A, K. 488
Concerto #24 in c, K. 491
PROKOFIEV             
Concerto #3 in C, Op. 26
RACHMANINOFF   
Concerto #2 in c, Op. 18
Concerto #3 in d, Op. 30
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 23
RAVEL                       
Concerto in G
SAINT-SAËNS          
Carnival of the Animals
SCHUMANN            
Concerto in a, Op. 54
TCHAIKOVSKY       
Concerto #1 in b-flat, Op. 23

"John Novacek juxtaposes some very serious Mozart with his lighter side. He approaches all of this music with consummate control and grace and a tonal luminosity that serves the composer well. A fine recital, enhanced by excellent sonics."
AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE

"Novacek’s contributions cannot be exaggerated. His partnering [with violinist Leila Josefowicz] is at once brilliant and unobtrusive; without slighting any musical values, he underplays handsomely while accomplishing technical feats many pianists can’t even consider: varieties of touch, a huge dynamic range, nuances of statement and the bold use of all his pianistic resources within the parameters imposed by the genre."
LOS ANGELES TIMES

"In terms of repertoire, performance and production values, this is a fine release. Novacek possesses a virile, steely technique that matches this material splendidly. Novacek’s style is athletic, but he is certainly capable of poetic playing when it is called for. In short, here is a splendid recital from a pianist well worth keeping an ear open for in the future."
FANFARE

"John Novacek performed Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 3. Novacek’s marvelous touch was evident from the start, his flawless legato singing through the piano’s opening theme. A superb technique is required for this most difficult of the Rachmaninov concerti and Novacek displayed his fully along with his unfailing musicality, moving with ease through the concerto’s difficult passage work as well as its simpler themes."
SAN BERNARDINO SUN

"[Elliott Carter’s] Sonata was written just before he began writing five decades of the most conceptually and technically challenging repertoire that any major composer has ever put before the public. Expertly performed by pianist John Novacek, the Sonata is a glorious work, though by no means easy listening. It would make a good entry point into Carter’s musical universe."
THE OTTAWA CITIZEN

"More than half the 23 rags on ‘Novarags’ are John Novacek’s original compositions or arrangements; at his best, he rivals some of William Bolcom’s superb contributions to this literature. Both the performances and the audio quality are excellent. There’s quite an emotional spectrum here, too, from the wildly irrepressible to the thoughtful and nostalgic, and that toe-tapping impulse you’ll always fine in good ragtime."
THE SEATTLE TIMES

"There is hardly a more athletic concerto than the [Prokofiev] Third and that’s saying something. Novacek laid into the keys with a touch of radioactivity, and drove the Scotia Festival Orchestra with furious intensity, playing the syncopated chords in the second movement like a jazz pianist, triggering them off just that split second early that threatens to crack the firmament - and twisting them with gut-wrenching body language to boot."
THE CHRONICLE HERALD (Halifax)

9/14/2010 (7:30pm) THE CROSSLANDS CONCERTS (Kennett Square, PA)
The William Penn Room
Rameau: Nouvelles suites de piPces de clavecin (3 works)
Schumann: Carnaval
Liszt: Rhapsodie espagnole
 
9/15/2010 (7:15pm) KENDAL CONCERTS (Kennett Square, PA)
Rameau: Nouvelles suites de piPces de clavecin (3 works)
Schumann: Carnaval
Liszt: Rhapsodie espagnole
 
9/18/2010 (8pm) SWEETWATER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Division Street United Church (Owen Sound, ON)
Milhaud: La création du monde
with Supernova String Quartet
Baker: Heritage
with James Campbell, clarinetist
Mark Fewer, clarinetist
Jo Phillips, bassist
Stravinsky: L’histoire du soldat (Tango, Waltz, Ragtime)
with Jonathan Crow, violinist
Mark Fewer, clarinetist
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
with St. Lawrence String Quartet
Supernova String Quartet

9/19/2010 (2pm) SWEETWATER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Division Street United Church (Owen Sound, ON)
Antheil: Violin Sonata #1
with Mark Fewer, violinist

10/8/2010 (7:30pm) BOZEMAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Reynolds Recital Hall, Montana State University
Rameau: Nouvelles suites de piPces de clavecin (3 works)
Schumann: Carnaval
Carter: Piano Sonata
Liszt: Rhapsodie espagnole
 
12/10/2010 (8pm) THE ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC (Toronto)
Koener Hall
with Leila Josefowicz, violinist
 
3/24/2011 (8pm) SAN FRANCISCO PERFORMANCES
Herbst Theatre
with Leila Josefowicz, violinist
 
4/7/2011 (8pm) THE DESERT SYMPHONY
Thomas E. Hartley, conductor
McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts (Palm Desert, CA)
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
Gershwin: Variations on I Got Rhythm
 
5/12/2011 (6pm) COLORADO COLLEGE SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Packard Hall, Colorado College
 
5/14/2011 (pm) SYMPHONY SPACE (NYC)
Ginastera: 3 Danzas argentinas
Frank: SueZos de Chambi
 
7/4-14/2011 MIMIR CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL (Fort Worth)
PepsiCo Recital Hall, Walsh Center for Performing Arts, TCU