Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos 1 - 5

Directed by Humphrey Burton

Born in 1956 in Zabrze, Poland, Krystian Zimerman began playing the piano at the age of five; he later studied with Andrei Jasinski at The Music Conservatory in Katowice. He embarked upon his international career after winning the 1975 Warsaw Chopin Competition.

Soon thereafter Zimerman made debut appearances in many European countries and also traveled to Paris to meet Artur Rubinstein. His Salzburg Festival debut in 1977 was followed by tours in Japan in 1978 and the U.S. in 1979. In 1980 he appeared at The Lucerne Festival and the Salzburg Whitsun Concerts together with Herbert von Karajan.

Since then Zimerman often makes concert tours in Europe, the U.S. and Japan. At the same time he records frequently, developing his repertoire to encompass works from Bach to Lutoslawski. The pianist has worked with all the great orchestras in Europe and America under conductors such as Pierre Boulez, Riccardo Chailly, Carlo Maria Giulini, Lorin Maazel, Seiji Ozawa, André Previn and Giuseppe Sinopoli.

Zimerman does not regard his greatest achievement as his prizewinning performances at international competitions but rather that he manages to devote a period of time each season to the learning of new repertoire. Each year he adds one or more concertos, chamber works and solo pieces to his repertory. In addition to around 50 concert appearances per year, Zimerman also gives chamber music performances and master classes. The pianist dedicates up to 12 of his concerts each year to charitable purposes. In 1996 he took up a teaching position at Basle's Academy of Music.

Zimerman signed his first exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon in 1976.

"In the last three there is a close rapport and unity of purpose between these two in many ways highly differing musical personalities; Zimerman poised and aristocratic, Bernstein a full-bodied, brilliant temperament. Their collaboration is a triumphant success" (Penguin Guide)