Krystian Zimerman
(born December 5, 1956) is a Polish classical pianist, who is widely regarded as one of the finest pianists in the world. [1] [2]
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Biography
Zimerman was born in
Zabrze, in
Poland, and studied at the
Katowice Conservatory under
Andrzej Jasinski. His career was launched when he won the 1975 Warsaw
International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition. He performed with the
Berlin Philharmonic conducted by
Herbert von Karajan in 1976 and he made his début in the United States with the
New York Philharmonic in 1979. He has toured widely and made a number of recordings. Since 1996 he has taught piano at the Academy of Music in
Basel,
Switzerland.
Zimerman is best known for his interpretations of
Romantic music, but has performed a wide variety of classical pieces as well. He has also been a supporter of contemporary music. For example,
Witold Lutoslawski wrote his piano concerto for Zimerman, who later recorded it. Amongst his best-known recordings are the piano concerti of
Edvard Grieg and
Robert Schumann with conductor
Herbert von Karajan; the
Brahms concerti with
Leonard Bernstein, the piano concerti of
Frédéric Chopin once conducted by
Carlo Maria Giulini and a later recording conducted by himself at the keyboard; the Third, Fourth and Fifth Piano Concertos of
Beethoven under Bernstein (Zimerman himself lead the accompaniment of the Vienna Philharmonic from the keyboard in Beethoven's First and Second Concertos) ; the first and second piano concerti of
Rachmaninoff; the piano concerti of
Franz Liszt with
Seiji Ozawa, the piano concerti of
Maurice Ravel with
Pierre Boulez, and solo piano works by
Frédéric Chopin,
Franz Liszt,
Claude Debussy and
Franz Schubert. Recently, Zimerman recorded Brahms'
Piano Concerto No. 1
with
Berlin Philharmonic conducted by
Simon Rattle (DG 477 5413; Limited Edition DG 477 6021).
Quotes
“
My friendship with the Steinway & Sons
”
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Criticism of US policy
Shortly after September 11, 2001, Zimerman's custom-made piano was confiscated at JFK Airport when he landed in New York City to give a recital at Carnegie Hall. The US Transportation Security Administration decided to destroy his piano, claiming the glue smelled like explosives.
On April 26, 2009, Zimerman vowed to his audience at Los Angeles's Disney Hall that, in protest of American foreign policy, this would be his final appearance in the United States.[ [4] He had made a similar threat in 2006, stating he would not return until George W. Bush was out of office. [5]
]
Awards
- 1975 International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition, Warsaw (First prize)
- Léonie Sonning Music Prize (1994; Denmark)
References
- In praise of ... Krystian Zimerman
- Review: Krystian Zimerman's controversial appearance at Disney Hall
- Steinways
- http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-250340 Krystian Zimerman, declares US boycott in protest at Disney H
- Classical music and opera Polish pianist stops show with anti-US tirade