Piano virtuoso

Murray Perahia envisioned himself going through life as a chamber musician. But when in the early 1970s, he won the prestigious Leeds International Pianoforte Competition, his impressive career as a concert pianist was launched. Along with Martha Argerich, Maurizio Pollini, and Radu Lupu, Perahia is one of the very best pianists currently active. If you want showiness, he is not the person to see; his trademark is a carefully considered, but also very natural style. It’s no coincidence that he was friends with Vladimir Horowitz and that he collaborated with masters like Benjamin Britten, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, and Janet Baker. In interviews, Perahia consistently talks about his boundless fascination for musical structures. Analysing music is one of his favourite activities. You can tell his great talent by the fact that he is able to hold his audience’s attention from the very first note to the very last. In his hands, even the most complex music sounds crystal clear, while his equal concern for the wishes of the composer is evident from his assiduous recordings of the complete scores of Beethoven’s piano sonatas (for the well-known Henle Verlag). Because he is now in his sixties, Perahia rarely performs solo recitals. In Brussels he will play music by Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, and Chopin. Let us hope he adds an encore by Bach, since his interpretation of Bach is also unmatched.

Murray Perahia 1/6, 20.00, €20/46/68/82, PALEIS VOOR SCHONE KUNSTEN/PALAIS DES BEAUX-ARTS, rue Ravensteinstraat 23, Brussel/Bruxelles, 02-507.82.00, info@bozar.be, www.bozar.be