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Alan Weiss, 13 oktober 2007
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Alan Weiss was born in New York City. Hailed as “one of the outstanding pianists of his generation” by legendary Czech pianist Rudolf Firkušný, he is “a poet” in the words of Brussels' Le Soir, whose playing, as was noted by The Daily Telegraph of London, “penetrates to the very core of the music”. “[He projected] a sense of line resembling in many respects the orchestral wizardry of Furtwängler”, wrote Spectator Online.
His background is unusually varied, having begun his studies on the classical guitar, receiving advice and encouragement, from the age of ten, of Andrés Segovia. The genius of Maestro Segovia left its indelible mark on his musical character and artistic development. Piano studies followed with, among others, Adlah Grossman, Sylvia Rabinof and Daniel Abrams, whose extraordinary inspiration led Alan to recognize his growing love for the piano and its repertoire, focusing solely on this instrument from the age of twelve. David Saperton, the illustrious teacher of Cherkassky, Katchen and Bolet; son-in-law of Godowsky and assistant at Curtis to Josef Hofmann, served at a crucial point in Alan’s pianistic development. Under the guidance of Firkusny’s deep musicianship he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Juilliard School. Finally, through a deeply ‘musical’ friendship with the unique Martha Argerich, Alan began to feel connected to music at a more fundamental and freely conceptual level.
In 1974 Mr. Weiss was invited by Rudolf Serkin to participate in his Marlboro Music Festival. The following year he was a winner of the Naumburg Piano Competition in Carnegie Hall. In 1978 he was awarded a silver-medal in the Queen Elisabeth of Belgium International Competition, effectively marking the beginning of his international career. He then established residence in Belgium and has since played numerous recitals and concerts in his native United States, England, continental Europe, South America, and the Middle and Far East.
Chamber music concerts have included performances with Rudolf Firkušný, Martha Argerich, Mischa Maisky, Ivry Gitlis, Alexander Rabinovitch and Pina Carmirelli, among others. His recordings of solo and chamber music have appeared on the Pavane, Vox, Phonic, D.G. and Sony labels, and a cd of solo piano music by Alkan for Fidelio was greeted as one of the great recordings of that composer. New recordings of solo music by Alkan and Brahms are appearing this year on the Brilliant label.
Mr. Weiss is piano professor at the Lemmens Institute and Utrecht Conservatory, and was named “professor extraordinaire à la Chapelle Musicale Reine Elisabeth” in Belgium. In addition to master classes given in France, Belgium and the United States, he has been invited by Martha Argerich to participate in her music festivals in Japan and Argentina, giving performances and master classes there in 2001, 2002 and 2007. |
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