Krystian Zimerman (born 5 December 1956) is a Polish concert pianist, conductor and pedagogue who has been described as one of the greatest pianists of his generation.[1][2] In 1975, he won the IX International Chopin Piano Competition.
Krystian Zimerman | |
|---|---|
 Zimerman in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 5 December 1956 Zabrze, Poland |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Pianist, conductor, pedagogue |
| Instrument | Piano |
Following the success at the Chopin Piano Competition, he began his collaboration with the Berlin Philharmonic and has since performed with leading orchestras around the world as well as many prominent conductors such as Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, Herbert von Karajan, Claudio Abbado and Simon Rattle.[3] He is especially known for his performances of compositions by Mozart, Chopin, Brahms and Beethoven. He is also the recipient of many awards and honours including Léonie Sonning Music Prize (1994), Legion of Honour (2005), Order of Polonia Restituta (2013) and Praemium Imperiale (2022).
Biography
editZimerman was born in Zabrze,[4] Southern Poland, and started to play the piano at the age of five encouraged by his father, who was also a pianist.[5] He studied at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice under Andrzej Jasiński. In 1973, he won top prize at the Ludwig van Beethoven International Piano Competition in Hradec Králové, Czechoslovakia.[6] His international career was launched when he won the 1975 Warsaw International Chopin Piano Competition. He performed with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1976, conducted by Herbert Blomstedt.[7] He debuted 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 Music Academy in Basel, Switzerland. In 1999, Zimerman created the Polish Festival Orchestra Archived 2020-08-15 at the Wayback Machine to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Frédéric Chopin's death.[8]
Zimerman is best known for his interpretations of Romantic music, but has performed a wide variety of classical pieces and is a supporter of contemporary music. Witold Lutosławski wrote his Piano Concerto for Zimerman, who has recorded it twice. Among his best-known recordings are the concerti of Grieg and Schumann with Herbert von Karajan; the Brahms concerti with Leonard Bernstein; the piano concerti of Chopin, one recording conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini and a later one conducted by himself at the keyboard; the Third, Fourth and Fifth Piano Concertos of Beethoven under Bernstein (Zimerman himself led 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 Liszt with Seiji Ozawa, the piano concerti of Ravel with Pierre Boulez, and solo piano works by Chopin, Liszt (including one of the most virtuosic performances of the famous Piano Sonata in B minor), Debussy and Schubert. In 2006, Zimerman recorded Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Sir Simon Rattle (DG 477 5413; Limited Edition DG 477 6021).
Zimerman has collaborated with conductors and artists such as Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim, Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, Charles Dutoit, Carlo Maria Giulini, Bernard Haitink, Herbert von Karajan, Kirill Kondrashin, Erich Leinsdorf, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, Seiji Ozawa, Simon Rattle, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Stanisław Skrowaczewski and Wolfgang Sawallisch.[9]
Criticism of US policy
editOn 26 April 2009, Zimerman vowed to his audience at Los Angeles's Walt Disney Concert Hall that, in protest at America's placement of a missile defense shield in Poland, this would be his final appearance in the United States.[2][10] He had made a similar comment in 2006, stating he would not return until George W. Bush was out of office.[11] As of September 2023[update] he has not made any further appearances in the United States.[12] Part of his disenchantment with the USA may be the increased security at US airports, which makes it difficult to bring his piano into the country. In incidents in 2001 and 2006, one of his Steinway pianos was completely destroyed and another one damaged by security staff at New York JFK airport.[13][14][15][16][17]
Personal life
editIn 1981, Zimerman moved to Röschenz in the canton of Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland, where he also became a Swiss citizen with Röschenz as his place of origin.[18] According to conflicting sources, he's still living in Röschenz,[19] or in Binningen, also near Basel.[20][21] He married Maria (née Drygajło), a violinist, with whom he has two children: Klaudia and Ryszard.[22] He divides his time among family, concerts, and performances of chamber music. Zimerman is an editor of the piano music of Władysław Szpilman for Boosey & Hawkes.
Selected awards and honours
edit- 1st Prize at the Voivod-wide Prokofiev Competition (1974; Poland)
- 1st Prize at the IX International Chopin Piano Competition (1975; Poland)
- Accademia Musicale Chigiana Award (1985; Italy)
- Léonie Sonning Music Prize (1994; Denmark)
- Honorary doctor of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice (2005; Poland)
- National Order of the Legion of Honour (2005; France)[23]
- Gold Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis (2010; Poland)
- Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2013; Poland)[24]
- Diapason d'Or (2015; France)
- Honorary doctor of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw (2015; Poland)[25]
- Praemium Imperiale (2022; Japan)[26]
- Gramophone Classical Music Award (2023; UK) – Piano Category (Szymanowski Piano Works)[27]
Discography
editMost of Zimerman's recordings have been released by Deutsche Grammophon, with which he has an exclusive lifelong contract.
Studio albums
edit| Date of Release | Date of Recording | Album Details | Collaborating Artists | Record Label | Catalogue No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 | Jerzy Maksymiuk conducting Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra |
Polskie Nagrania Muza | ||
| 1977 | Chopin: Andante spianato and Grande Polonaise & other piano works | Deutsche Grammophon | 2530 826 | ||
| 1978 | Chopin: 14 Waltzes | Deutsche Grammophon | 2530 965 | ||
| 1978 | January 1978 | Mozart: Piano Sonatas KV280, 281, 311 & 330 | Deutsche Grammophon | 2531 052 | |
| 1979 | Mozart: Violin Sonatas KV 547, 404 & 481 | Kaja Danczowska (violin) | Wifon | ||
| 1979 | November 1978 | Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 | Carlo Maria Giulini conducting Los Angeles Philharmonic |
Deutsche Grammophon | 2531 125 |
| 1980 | November 1979 | Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 | Carlo Maria Giulini conducting Los Angeles Philharmonic |
Deutsche Grammophon | 2531 126 |
| 1980 | June 1979 | Brahms: Piano Sonatas No. 1 & 2 | Deutsche Grammophon | 2531 252 | |
| 1981 | July 1980 | Franck: Violin Sonata / Szymanowski: Mythes | Kaja Danczowska (violin) | Deutsche Grammophon | 431 469-2 |
| 1982 | September 1981 | Schumann: Piano Concerto Op. 54; Grieg: Piano Concerto Op. 16 | Berlin Philharmonic (conducted by Herbert von Karajan) |
Deutsche Grammophon | 439 015-2 |
| 1983 | Brahms: Piano Sonata No.3, Scherzo Op. 4, Balladen Op. 10 | Deutsche Grammophon | 423 401-2 | ||
| 1984 | November 1983 | Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 | Vienna Philharmonic (conducted by Leonard Bernstein) |
Deutsche Grammophon | 431 207-2 |
| 1985 | October 1984 | Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 | Vienna Philharmonic (conducted by Leonard Bernstein) |
Deutsche Grammophon | 415 359-2 |
| 1986 | Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 | Kyrill Kondrashin conducting Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra |
Deutsche Grammophon | 419 054-2 | |
| 1988 | April 1987 | Liszt: Piano Concertos No. 1 & 2; Totentanz; Piano Sonata S.178; Nuages gris s.199; La notte S.602; La lugubre gondola S.200 no.2; Funérailles | Seiji Ozawa conducting Boston Symphony Orchestra |
Deutsche Grammophon | 423 571-2 |
| 1988 | July 1987 | Chopin: 4 Ballades; Barcarolle, Op. 60; Fantasie in F | Deutsche Grammophon | 423 090-2 | |
| 1989 | July 1988 | Strauss: Violin Sonata Op. 18 / Respighi: Violin Sonata | Kyung-Wha Chung (violin) | Deutsche Grammophon | 457 907-2 |
| 1991 | February 1990 | Schubert: Impromptus D.899 & D.935 | Deutsche Grammophon | 423 612-2 | |
| 1991 | March 1991 | Liszt: Sonata in B minor & other piano works | Deutsche Grammophon | 431 780-2 | |
| 1992 | November 1989 & March 1990 | Lutosławski: Piano Concerto; Chain 3; Novelette | BBC Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Witold Lutosławski) |
Deutsche Grammophon | 431 664-2 |
| 1992 | September 1989 | Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 & 4 | Leonard Bernstein conducting Vienna Philharmonic |
Deutsche Grammophon | 429 749-2 |
| 1992 | September 1989 | Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor" | Leonard Bernstein conducting Vienna Philharmonic |
Deutsche Grammophon | 429 748-2 |
| 1992 | December 1991 | Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 & 2 | Himself conducting Vienna Philharmonic |
Deutsche Grammophon | 437 545-2 |
| 1994 | August 1991 | Debussy: Preludes | Deutsche Grammophon | 435 773-2 | |
| 1998 | November 1994 (Tracks 1–11) July 1996 (Track 12) |
Ravel: Piano Concerto; Valses nobles et sentimentales; Concerto for the Left Hand in D major |
The Cleveland Orchestra (Tracks 1–11) London Symphony Orchestra (Track 12) (conducted by Pierre Boulez) |
Deutsche Grammophon | 449 213-2 |
| 1999 | August 1999 | Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 | Himself conducting Polish Festival Orchestra |
Deutsche Grammophon | 459 684-2 |
| 2003 | December 1997 (No.1) December 2000 (No.2) |
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 | Boston Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Seiji Ozawa) |
Deutsche Grammophon | 459 643-2 |
| 2005 | November 2001 | Bartók: Piano Concerto No. 1 | Chicago Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Pierre Boulez) |
Deutsche Grammophon | |
| 2006 | September 2003 | Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 | Berliner Philharmonic (conducted by Sir Simon Rattle) |
Deutsche Grammophon | 477 5413 |
| 2011 | February 2009 | Bacewicz: Piano Sonata No. 2; Quintets Nos. 1 & 2 | Kaja Danczowska (violin) Agata Szymczewska (violin) Ryszard Groblewski (viola) Rafal Kwiatkowski (cello) |
Deutsche Grammophon | 477 8351 |
| 2015 | February 2013 | Lutoslawski: Piano Concerto (1987–88), Symphony No. 2 (1965 -67) | Berliner Philharmonic (conducted by Sir Simon Rattle) |
Deutsche Grammophon | 479 4518 |
| 2017 | September 2016 | Schubert: Piano Sonatas D.959 & D.960 | Deutsche Grammophon | 479 7588 | |
| 2018 | June 2018 | Bernstein: Symphony No. 2 "The Age of Anxiety" | Berliner Philharmonic (conducted by Sir Simon Rattle) |
Deutsche Grammophon | 483 5539 |
| 2021 | July 2021 | Beethoven: Complete Piano Concertos | London Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Sir Simon Rattle) | Deutsche Grammophon | 483 9971 |
| 2022 | September 2022 | Szymanowski: Piano Works | Deutsche Grammophon |
Live albums
edit| Date of issue | Date of recording | Cover art | Album details | Collaborating artists | Record label | Catalogue no. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 8, Op. 13 "Pathétique" Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No.3, Op.28 Bacewicz: Piano Sonata No.2 |
Polskie Nagrania Muza | ||||
| 1986 | Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 (recorded in 1979) |
Kyrill Kondrashin conducting Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra |
Deutsche Grammophon | |||
| 2021 | Beethoven complete Piano Concertos | London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Simon Rattle |
Deutsche Grammophon |
Video releases
edit| Date of issue | Date of filming | Video details | Collaborating artists | Record label | Catalogue no. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 | Leonard Bernstein conducting Vienna Philharmonic | Deutsche Grammophon | ||
| 1985 | Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 | Leonard Bernstein conducting Vienna Philharmonic | Deutsche Grammophon | ||
| 1995 | Chopin: 4 Ballades; Fantasie; Barcarolle; Scherzo No. 2 / Schubert: 4 Impromptus Op. 90 | Deutsche Grammophon |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "In praise of ... Krystian Zimerman". The Guardian. London. 29 April 2009. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
- ^ a b Swed, Mark (27 April 2009). "Review: Krystian Zimerman's controversial appearance at Disney Hall". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
- ^ "Krystian Zimerman". Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Krystian Zimerman | Biography". Archived from the original on 2022-04-24. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
- ^ "Krystian Zimerman". Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Krystian Zimerman". Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Berliner Philharmoniker Blomstedt-Thielemann-Kavakos". Berliner-philharmoniker.de. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ Culture.pl (15 October 2015). "Krystian Zimerman - Biography | Artist". Culture.pl. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ^ "Krystian Zimerman". Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ "Krystian Zimerman, declares US boycott in protest at Disney Hall in Los Angeles". Ireport.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
- ^ Gumbel, Andrew (28 April 2009). "Classical music and opera Polish pianist stops show with anti-US tirade". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
- ^ "Tour Dates (Kristian Zimerman) - accessed 26 November 2019". Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Piano great says he won't return to U.S. - today". Today.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ^ Andrew Gumbel in Los Angeles (28 April 2009). "Polish pianist stops show with anti-US tirade | Music". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ^ "klassik.com : Pianist Krystian Zimerman unterbricht Konzert wegen Smartphone-Mitschnitt aus dem Publikum". Magazin.klassik.com. 23 October 2015. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ^ Vasagar, Jeevan (4 June 2013). "Pianist Krystian Zimerman storms out of concert in protest at being filmed on phone". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ "Krystian Zimerman speaks". Timesargus.com. 20 October 2006. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ^ Lutz, Kiki (2012-09-17). "Zimerman, Krystian (1956-)". Lexikon des Jura (in German). Archived from the original on 2022-12-26. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
- ^ "Musik-Tipp: Krystian Zimerman". Wochenblatt. Amtlicher Anzeiger für das Schwarzbubenlandund das Laufental (in German). 2022-12-15. p. 19. Archived from the original on 2022-12-26. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
- ^ Anthony Tommasini (13 April 1997). "Sidestepping The Celebrity Circuit" Archived 2020-03-21 at the Wayback Machine. The New York Times.
- ^ "Polska Muza - Siedem Odsłon". Polskamuza.eu. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
- ^ Marta Polańska. "Po prostu Krystin Zimerman". polskamuza.eu (in Polish). Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Krystian Zimerman". Culture.pl. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "Krystian Zimerman odznaczony przez prezydenta" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 15 September 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "UROCZYSTOŚĆ INAUGURACJI ROKU AKADEMICKIEGO 2015/2016". Chopin.edu.pl. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "Krystian Zimerman wins the 2022 Praemium Imperiale". 15 September 2022. Archived from the original on 15 September 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Gramophone's Piano Award 2023". Retrieved 17 March 2024.
External links
edit
- Krystian Zimerman at AllMusic
- Krystian Zimerman discography
- Krystian Zimerman collected news and commentary at The New York Times