Markus Becker (pianist)

Markus Becker (* 1963 ) is a German pianist .

Life

Markus Becker is the son of music teacher Peter Becker . He studied with Karl-Heinz Kämmerling in Hanover. In 1987 Becker took 1st place at the International Brahms Competition in Hamburg . Since 1993 he has been professor for piano chamber music at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media. Since the 1990s he has been known for his concert and recording activities as well as for masterclasses, etc. a. in Salzburg, Weiden and Leipzig. For his recording of Max Reger's entire piano works , Becker received the German Record Prize in 2000 and the ECHOklassik for the best solo recording of music from the 19th century . In 2001 he was able to repeat this success, honoring the entire edition of twelve CDs. In addition, Becker's recordings received reference ratings in international journals (fono forum, klassik heute, American record guide, gramophone, etc.) and in 2019 the OPUS-Klassik-Preis as the best concert recording of the 19th century (Reger Piano Concerto). As a chamber musician, Becker u. a. with Albrecht Mayer, Alban Gerhardt, Kolja Blacher, Sharon Kam, Igor Levit, Hinrich Alpers. Becker presents himself as a jazz pianist with the programs "Kiev / Chicago" and "Freistil".

Discography (selection)

• Reger. Piano concerto, piano pieces (NDR Radiophilharmonie, Joshua Weilerstein - Cavi 2019)
• Pfitzner / Braunfels: Piano concerts (RSO Berlin, Constantin Trinks - hyperion 2019)
• Widor: Piano Concertos (BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Thierry Fischer - hyperion 2010)
• Jadassohn / Draeseke: Piano Concerts (RSO Berlin, Michael Sanderling - hyperion 2009)
• Franz Schmidt: Piano concertos for the left hand (NDR Radiophilharmonie, Eiji Oue - cpo 2006)
• George Antheil: Piano Concerts 1 and 2 (NDR Radiophilharmonie, Eiji Oue - cpo 2006)
• "Freestyle" - jazz improvisations (berthold records 2019)
• Haydn: Piano Sonatas (Cavi 2016)
• Julius Reubke: Piano Sonata and Organ Sonata (Transcription August Stradal - hyperion 2014)
• "Kiev / Chicago": Mussorgsky, Scriabin, jazz improvisations, 2 CDs (Dreyer Gaido 2013)
• Hindemith: Piano Sonatas 1-3 (hyperion 2012)
• Reger: Bach transcriptions, 2 CDs (hyperion 2009)
• Jan Ladislav Dusek: Piano Sonatas opp. 44, 61, 64 (cpo 2008)
• Jan Ladislav Dussek: Piano Sonatas opp. 9, 1-3 and 77 (cpo 2007)
• Beethoven: Sonatas opp. 2/3 and 106 (fortepiano) (cpo 2006)
• Bach: Goldberg Variations BWV 988 (cpo 2002)
• Max Reger, The Complete Piano Works Vol. 1 - 12 (Thorofon, 1996 - 2000)
• Schumann / Brahms: The F sharp minor sonatas op.11 and op.2 (Thorofon 1996)
• Beethoven: Piano Concerto in E flat major WoO 4, quintet op. 16 a. a. (Cavi 2020)
• George Onslow: Sextet op. 30 (Ma'alot Quintet - MDG 2017)
• "Rostropovich Encores": Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Prokofjew a. a. (Alban Gerhardt - hyperion 2016)
• "Schilflieder", Schumann, Herzogenberg u. a. (Albrecht Mayer, Tabea Zimmermann, Marie-Luise Neunecker - Decca 2010)
• Erwin Schulhoff: Violin Sonatas (Tanja Becker-Bender - hyperion 2010)
• Reger: Cello sonatas and suites (Alban Gerhardt - hyperion 2007)
• Franz and Richard Strauss: Works for horn and piano (Stephan Dohr - Campanella 2001)
• Schumann et al. a .: Works for oboe and piano (Albrecht Mayer - emi 1999)
• Schumann / Elgar: Piano Quintets (Kolja Blacher, Stanley Dodds, Brett Dean, Ludwig Quandt - IPPNW CD 28, 1999)
• Brahms: Piano Quartet Op. 26, Horn Trio Op. 40 (Kolja Blacher, Brett Dean, Ludwig Quandt, Stephan Dohr - IPPNW CD 19, 1997)
• Schumann: Fantasiestücke op. 73 (Alban Gerhardt) a. a. (IPPNW CD 8, 1993)

Web links

• Website by Markus Becker

Individual evidence