==Biography==
==Biography==
Zimerman was born in [[Zabrze]], [[Katowice Voivodeship]], [[Polish People’s Republic]],<ref name=”deutschegrammophon”>{{cite web | url=https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/artists/krystian-zimerman/biography | title=Krystian Zimerman | Biography | access-date=24 April 2022 | archive-date=24 April 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424045018/https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/artists/krystian-zimerman/biography | url-status=live }}</ref> and started to play the piano at the age of five encouraged by his father, who was also a pianist.<ref name=”Krystian Zimerman”/> 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.<ref name=”Krystian Zimerman”/> 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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/titelgeschichten/2014-2015/blomstedt-thielemann-kavakos/|title=Berliner Philharmoniker Blomstedt-Thielemann-Kavakos|website=Berliner-philharmoniker.de|access-date=15 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922154717/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/titelgeschichten/2014-2015/blomstedt-thielemann-kavakos/|archive-date=22 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Arthur Rubinstein]] invited him to Paris to work with him, which led to a friendship and mentorship that lasted until Rubinstein’s death in 1982.<ref name=”deutschegrammophon”/><ref name=”polmic”/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Duchen |first=Jessica |author-link=Jessica Duchen |date=5 December 2016 |title=An interview with Krystian Zimerman |url=https://jessicamusic.blogspot.com/2016/12/an-interview-with-krystian-zimerman.html |access-date=14 January 2025 |website=JDCMB}}</ref> Zimerman 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 [[City of Basel Music Academy|Music Academy]] in [[Basel]], Switzerland. In 1999, Zimerman created the Polish Festival Orchestra<ref> [http://www.polishfestivalorchestra.com/ Polish Festival Orchestra]{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815140635/http://www.polishfestivalorchestra.com/ |date=15 August 2020 }} </ref> to commemorate the 150th anniversary of [[Frédéric Chopin]]’s death.<ref>{{cite web|author=Culture.pl|url=http://culture.pl/en/artist/krystian-zimerman|title=Krystian Zimerman – Biography | Artist|website=Culture.pl|date=15 October 2015|access-date=28 October 2015|archive-date=30 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930015559/http://culture.pl/en/artist/krystian-zimerman|url-status=live}}</ref>
Zimerman was born in [[Zabrze]], [[Katowice Voivodeship]], [[Polish People’s Republic]],<ref name=”deutschegrammophon”>{{cite web | url=https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/artists/krystian-zimerman/biography | title=Krystian Zimerman | Biography | access-date=24 April 2022 | archive-date=24 April 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424045018/https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/artists/krystian-zimerman/biography | url-status=live }}</ref> and started to play the piano at the age of five encouraged by his father, who was also a pianist.<ref name=”Krystian Zimerman”/> 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.<ref name=”Krystian Zimerman”/> 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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/titelgeschichten/2014-2015/blomstedt-thielemann-kavakos/|title=Berliner Philharmoniker Blomstedt-Thielemann-Kavakos|website=Berliner-philharmoniker.de|access-date=15 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922154717/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/titelgeschichten/2014-2015/blomstedt-thielemann-kavakos/|archive-date=22 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Arthur Rubinstein]] invited him to Paris to work with him, which led to a friendship and mentorship that lasted until Rubinstein’s death in 1982.<ref name=”deutschegrammophon”/><ref name=”polmic”/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Duchen |first=Jessica |author-link=Jessica Duchen |date=5 December 2016 |title=An interview with Krystian Zimerman |url=https://jessicamusic.blogspot.com/2016/12/an-interview-with-krystian-zimerman.html |access-date=14 January 2025 |website=JDCMB}}</ref> Zimerman 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 [[City of Basel Music Academy|Music Academy]] in [[Basel]], Switzerland. In 1999, Zimerman created the Polish Festival Orchestra<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200815140635/http://www.polishfestivalorchestra.com/ | </ref> to commemorate the 150th anniversary of [[Frédéric Chopin]]’s death.<ref>{{cite web|author=Culture.pl|url=http://culture.pl/en/artist/krystian-zimerman|title=Krystian Zimerman – Biography | Artist|website=Culture.pl|date=15 October 2015|access-date=28 October 2015|archive-date=30 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930015559/http://culture.pl/en/artist/krystian-zimerman|url-status=live}}</ref>
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 (Lutosławski)|Piano Concerto]] for Zimerman, who has recorded it twice. Among his best-known recordings are the [[Piano concerto|concerti]] of [[Piano Concerto (Grieg)|Grieg]] and [[Piano Concerto (Schumann)|Schumann]] with [[Herbert von Karajan]]; the [[Johannes Brahms|Brahms]] concerti with [[Leonard Bernstein]]; the piano concerti of [[Frédéric Chopin|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 [[Ludwig van Beethoven|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 [[Sergei Rachmaninoff|Rachmaninoff]]; the piano concerti of [[Franz Liszt|Liszt]] with [[Seiji Ozawa]], the piano concerti of [[Maurice Ravel|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 (Liszt)|Piano Sonata in B minor]]), [[Claude Debussy|Debussy]] and [[Franz Schubert|Schubert]]. In 2006, Zimerman recorded Brahms’ [[Piano Concerto No. 1 (Brahms)|Piano Concerto No. 1]] with the [[Berlin Philharmonic]] conducted by Sir [[Simon Rattle]] (DG 477 5413; Limited Edition DG 477 6021).
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 (Lutosławski)|Piano Concerto]] for Zimerman, who has recorded it twice. Among his best-known recordings are the [[Piano concerto|concerti]] of [[Piano Concerto (Grieg)|Grieg]] and [[Piano Concerto (Schumann)|Schumann]] with [[Herbert von Karajan]]; the [[Johannes Brahms|Brahms]] concerti with [[Leonard Bernstein]]; the piano concerti of [[Frédéric Chopin|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 [[Ludwig van Beethoven|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 [[Sergei Rachmaninoff|Rachmaninoff]]; the piano concerti of [[Franz Liszt|Liszt]] with [[Seiji Ozawa]], the piano concerti of [[Maurice Ravel|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 (Liszt)|Piano Sonata in B minor]]), [[Claude Debussy|Debussy]] and [[Franz Schubert|Schubert]]. In 2006, Zimerman recorded Brahms’ [[Piano Concerto No. 1 (Brahms)|Piano Concerto No. 1]] with the [[Berlin Philharmonic]] conducted by Sir [[Simon Rattle]] (DG 477 5413; Limited Edition DG 477 6021).
Polish classical pianist (born 1956)
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Krystian Zimerman |
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|---|---|
Zimerman in 2018 |
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| Born | 5 December 1956 |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupations | Pianist, conductor, pedagogue |
| Instrument | Piano |
Musical artist
Krystian Zimerman (born 5 December 1956)[1] is a Polish concert pianist, conductor and pedagogue who has been described as one of the greatest pianists of his generation.[2][3] In 1975, he won the IX International Chopin Piano Competition.
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.[1] 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).
Zimerman was born in Zabrze, Katowice Voivodeship, Polish People’s Republic,[4] and started to play the piano at the age of five encouraged by his father, who was also a pianist.[1] 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.[1] 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.[5] Arthur Rubinstein invited him to Paris to work with him, which led to a friendship and mentorship that lasted until Rubinstein’s death in 1982.[4][6][7] Zimerman 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[8] to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Frédéric Chopin‘s death.[9]
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.[6]
Criticism of US policy
[edit]
On 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.[3][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]
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]
In 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]
Most of Zimerman’s recordings have been released by Deutsche Grammophon, with which he has an exclusive lifelong contract.
