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Tzimon BARTO |
Since
his appearances as pianist at the Vienna Musikverein and the Salzburg
Festival at the invitation of Herbert von Karajan, Tzimon Barto has repeatedly
brought dynamic and highly acclaimed performances to audiences worldwide.
He is internationally recognized as one of the most important American
pianists of his generation, performing to packed halls of faithful fans
with solo, orchestra and chamber music concerts. Barto's career spans
over two decades featuring performances with nearly every major orchestra
worldwide. Barto is a frequent guest in Europe, with recent appearances
in Austria, Italy, Czech Republic and Germany.
Ondine records Finland, released a Rameau solo album: "A BASKET OF
WILD STRAWBERRIES, ‘in 2006, ‘A Selection of Keyboard Jewels’
by Jean-Philippe Rameau which has received outstanding reviews."
A Ravel solo album, Miroirs/Jeux d’eau followed, also recognized
for Barto’s unique take on the music.
Tzimon Barto's numerous recording for EMI include concerti by Ravel, Prokoviev,
Rachmaninov, Liszt, Chopin and Bartók. He has also recorded Gershwin's
"Rhapsody in Blue", Manuel de Falla's "Nights in the Gardens
of Spain", and solo recitals of works by Chopin, Schumann and Liszt,
as well as a disc of popular encores, featuring music ranging from Bach
to Joplin. One of this Season’s highlight is the release of his
Ravel recording for the Ondine Label.
Barto was born and raised in Eustis, Florida. He began his piano studies
with his grandmother at the age of 5. As a teenager he studied at Rollins
College in Winter Park, Florida, and the Brevard Music Center. He attended
the Juilliard School of Music from 1981-1985 studying piano with Adele
Marcus. While at Juilliard he won the Gina Bachauer Competition on two
consecutive years as well as the school's concerto competition. Additionally,
Barto was a conducting fellow and a coach for the American Opera Center.
At the Tanglewood Institute, he received the "Most Outstanding Student
Award", presented by Gunther Schuller for his achievements as a young
conductor. During his last year at Juilliard, Gian-Carlo Menotti invited
him to conduct and play at the Spoleto Festival in Italy, then reengaging
him the following year to conduct the composer's "Saint of the Bleeker
Street" in honor of his 75th birthday. That same summer Barto began
his affiliation with EMI Records as well as auditioning for Maestro Christoph
Eschenbach who immediately engaged him for a series of concerts in Europe
and his American debut with the Boston Symphony.
Highlighting the 2007/2008 season are recitals in Austria, Turkey, Poland
and at major German festivals; orchestra performances in Germany, Switzerland
and Finland.
In addition to his performing career, Mr. Barto is fluent in five languages,
is a reader of Homeric Greek, Latin and Hebrew, studies Farsi and Mandarin
and writes prolifically on a monumental literary cycle. His first book,
"a lady of Greek origin" was introduced in fall 2001 in both
English and German at the Frankfurt Book Fair. A stage version of the
'lady' premiered Frankfurt/Germany and has been performed in 2005 in Vienna.
A novel, 'Harold Flanders' was completed in 2006