Internationally acclaimed pianist Boris Berman will present a recital at 8 p.m. April 12 in the Rose and Jules R. Setnor Auditorium in Crouse College. Berman will also present a lecture and master class April 13, during which selected students from the Rose, Jules R. and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music will perform.
During the concert, Berman will perform works by Debussy, Ives, Foss and Chopin. In the lecture, Berman will discuss chapters from his new book, "Notes From the Pianist's Bench" (Yale University Press, 2000).
Berman's artistry is well-known to audiences in more than 40 countries. His highly acclaimed performances have included appearances with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra (London), the Toronto Symphony, the Israel Philharmonic, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony, the Houston Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony, St. Petersburg Philharmonic and the Royal Scottish Orchestra.
Born in Moscow, Berman studied at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory with distinguished pianist Lev Oborin and graduated with distinction as both a pianist and harpsichordist. He has performed extensively throughout the Soviet Union as a recitalist and as guest soloist with numerous orchestras, including the Moscow Philharmonic and Moscow Chamber orchestras.
In 1973, Berman left a flourishing career in the Soviet Union to immigrate to Israel. He quickly established himself as one of the most sought-after keyboard performers, as well as one of the country's more influential musical personalities. He currently resides in the United States.
Berman was the founding director of the Music Spectrum concert series in Israel (1975-84) and of the Yale Music Spectrum series in the United States (1984-97). Active in chamber music, he has appeared in numerous concerts and festivals with such artists and groups as Misha Maisky, Heinz Holliger, Aurele Nicolet, Shlomo Mintz, Gyorgy Pauk, Ralph Kirshbaum, Frans Helmerson, Natalia Gutman, the Tokyo Quartet, the Vermeer Quartet and the Netherland Wind Ensemble.
A dedicated teacher of international stature, Berman has served on the faculties of Indiana, Boston, Brandeis and Tel-Aviv universities. Currently, he heads the piano department at the Yale School of Music and conducts master classes throughout the world. He was the founding director of the Yale Summer Piano Institute (1990-92) and of the International Summer Piano Institute in Hong Kong (1995-97)
