Robert Silverman

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Robert Herschel Silverman CM (born May 25, 1938 in Montreal ) is a Canadian pianist and music teacher.

Silverman had his first piano lessons at the age of four, performed with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra at the age of fourteen, and won first prize at the Quebec Music Festival in 1961 . He then studied for two years at the Vienna Music Academy, at McGill University with Dorothy Morton and at the Eastman School of Music with Cécile Genhart . In 1967 he won first prize in the Jeunesses Musicales of the Canada National Competition and performed at Expo 67 .

Silverman has performed with all major Canadian orchestras, as well as with the BBC, Chicago and Sydney symphony orchestras, and toured North America, Europe, Australia, Asia and the Soviet Union. He has also worked with major string quartets and performed at chamber music festivals.

The focus of Silverman's repertoire are the works of Bach , Beethoven and Mozart . In performance cycles he played all the piano sonatas by Beethoven (1996) and Mozart (2006). In 1977 he received the Grand Prix du disque of the Budapest Liszt Society for his Liszt recordings .

In 1970 he gave the world premiere of Jacques Hétus Concerto , which he recorded in 1977 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. He also premiered Harry Somers ' Second Piano Concerto , Michael Conway Baker's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra , Alexina Louies Piano Concerto , Jacques Hétus Sonata and Keith Hamels Thrust . His discography includes a dozen long-playing records and around twenty-five CDs, including a complete recording of Beethoven's sonatas.

Silverman taught at the University of California (1969–70), the University of Wisconsin (1970–73) and finally for thirty years until 2003 at the University of British Columbia , whose music school he directed from 1991 to 1995. Sharon Krause and David Swan are among his students .

Discography (selection)

  • Beethoven 32 Sonatas (10 CDs)
  • Brahms Piano Music vol I-III
  • The Early Recordings
  • Aaron Copland: Piano Sonata, Passecaglia, 4 Piano Blues, Cat and the Mouse
  • Rachmaninoff: The Two Sonatas
  • César Franck: Prelude, Chorale & Fugue; Prelude, Aria & Final
  • Liszt B Minor Sonata
  • Beethoven: Diabelli Variations, 32 Variations in c

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Silverman, Robert
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Silverman, Robert Herschel (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Canadian pianist and music educator
DATE OF BIRTH May 25, 1938
PLACE OF BIRTH Montreal