Maksim was born Maksin Mrvica in Sibenik in Croatia. He started piano lessons at the age of nine and despite the outbreak of the war in Eastern Europe, managed to continue his music studies as he was growing up. He went to the Music Academy in Zagreb to study with Professor Vladimir Krpan. He later moved to the Ferenc Liszt Conservatoire in Budapest. It was during his stay here that he won first prize at the Nicolai Rubinstein International Piano Competition. He next went to Paris to study with Igor Lazko and there won first prize at the Pontoise Piano Competition.
The combination of the prize, his youth and good looks made him a star in Europe and it was after this that he was discovered by Mel Bush. Bush was the same guy who launched the successful careers of Vanessa Mae and the girl group Bond. All of them were attractive-looking, classically-trained violinists who perform the classics with a pop twist. Bush had long been in search of a pianist who could be a pop star and Maksim was it. He applied the same formula to Maksim who also became a success.
Maksim has recorded two successful albums of instrumental music. The first one The Piano Player, introduced him as the sensational discovery who will bridge the gap between pop and classical piano playing. This one gave birth to his big hits Flight of the Bumble Bee and Exodus. It also includes Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor, Claudine, Wonderland, Handel’s Sarabande, Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, Hana’s Eyes, Chopin’s Revolutionary Etude in C Minor, Cubana, Croatian Rhapsody and Dance of the Baroness.
A New World is the much-awaited follow-up. Like the first one this is an album to emote with. Use it as background score for those emotional moments. A New World boasts of an impressive 17 cuts that has already spawned one big seller after only a month in the market. This is Maksim’s version of the theme from the Christopher Reeve-Jane Seymor movie Somewhere in Time. It also includes Dido’s Lament, Tosca, Desert Skies, Intermezzo, Ride of the Valkyries, Still Waters, Blue Balloon, Mojito, Flower Duet, Devorah’s Theme, Kolibre, Nostradamus and A New World among others.
Maksim is set to perform at the PICC at the CCP Complex in Pasay on the evening of Friday, Dec. 16. Titled Maksim –A New World, the show is presented by Viva Concerts. Tickets are priced at P3,500 (Flat Area); P3,000, (Level 2); P2,500 (Level 3); and P1,000 (Balcony) and are now available at all SM Ticketnet (911-5555) outlets and at Ticketworld (891-9999) in all National Bookstores. For inquiries, call Viva Concerts at 687-6181.