Nelson Goerner

Generally ranked among the leading pianists of his generation, Nelson Goerner is best known for his interpretations of the works of Chopin, with much of his discography devoted to the composer's music. Yet his repertory is fairly broad, taking in works by Beethoven, Schumann, Liszt, and such contemporary composers as Edward Gregson and Jon Lord. Goerner's interests extend to chamber music and two-piano repertoire, and he has toured extensively. Goerner was born in San Pedro, Argentina, on May 9, 1969. He could read and write by age three and studied piano from his childhood. Goerner's advanced studies were at the Buenos Aires Conservatory, where his teachers included Juan Carlos Arabian. In 1986, Goerner won the Franz Liszt Piano Competition in Buenos Aires and shortly thereafter debuted with the Buenos Aires Philharmonic Orchestra. While regularly appearing in concert afterward, he continued studies with Carmen Scalcione. With the help of Martha Argerich, he received scholarships for studies at the Geneva Conservatory under Maria Tipo. In 1990, Goerner won the Concours International d'Execution Musicale Genève, effectively launching his international career. He has since toured the Americas and made many appearances in Japan, the U.K., Italy, France, Germany, and elsewhere. He has performed at such prestigious venues as the Leipzig Gewandhaus, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Milan's Sala Verdi, and with major orchestras like the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Montreal Symphony, London Philharmonic, and Tokyo NHK Symphony. He often collaborates with other musicians or ensembles, like the Takács Quartet, violinist Vadim Repin, and cellist Steven Isserlis. Goerner also performs in two-piano repertoire, and his partners have included Argerich and his wife, Rusudan Alavidze. Goerner's recordings are available from EMI, Chandos, Cascavelle, and many other labels. EMI released his debut album in 1997 to rave reviews, an all-Chopin disc that included the Third Sonata. By the early years of the new century, Goerner was a major presence on the international scene. His 2003 recital of works by Schumann, Debussy, and Stravinsky in Wigmore Hall was one of many critical triumphs. A string of successful recordings followed, including his 2005 Rachmaninov album, on Cascavelle, that included the challenging Second Sonata, and his 2008 EMI recording of Lord's Piano Concerto. Goerner's 2009 appearance at the Verbier Festival in performances of Beethoven and Chopin received rave reviews both at the time and when issued on a Euroarts DVD in 2010. In 2019, Goerner issued a recording of Brahms' Piano Sonata No. 3 and Paganini Variations, on Alpha. ~ Robert Cummings & Keith Finke, Rovi