|
Martin
Berkofsky,
Franz Liszt
Discography
Press Reviews
The
Ethic of The Performing Artist
 |
Listen Now to Martin
Berkofsky performing |
| Choose your media: |
|
|
NEED
HELP?
|
|
|
Of Russian background, Martin Berkofsky was born in 1943
in Washington, D.C. His progress as a “prodigy”
was so rapid that by the age of eight he was already giving
public performances and television broadcasts. Berkofsky’s
early years were marked by frequent appearances and many
awards,
but serious study continued first with the renowned Polish
virtuoso and student of Busoni, Mieczyslaw Munz, then with
Konrad Wolff and Walter Hautzig, both of whom were students
of Arthur Schnabel, then finally with Hans Kann in Vienna.
For thirteen years Mr. Berkofsky resided abroad, performing
extensively in 25 countries and appeared on over 100 radio
and television broadcasts. He has recorded with both the
London,
Berlin, and Seattle Symphonies. For three years Berkofsky
appeared as co-director of the Long Island Chamber Ensemble
in its
New York and touring concert program when many new works
were commissioned and premiered.
Winner of the New York National Music League Young Artists
Competition, Berkofsky received a five-year contract to tour
the United States and was guest of Yale University’s
Sanford Fellowship in recognition of his role in the discovery
and restoration of Max Bruch’s long-lost Concerto for
Two Pianos and Orchestra.
In musicological circles, Berkofsky is known not only for
his Bruch restoration, but also for similar restoration and
recording of a duo-concerto composed jointly by Mendelssohn
and Moscheles; for his discovery in Paris and subsequent editing
and publication of a previously unknown Liszt manuscript;
and for his collaboration with Romanian baritone Ludovic Konya
for the restoration and first recordings of Lieder by the
Romanian composer Nicolae Bretan.
Berkofsky returned to the United States in 1991 and appeared
at the Kennedy Center in performance with members of the
Lincoln Center Chamber Music
Society. A much sought-after pedagogue, Berkofsky has given
many master classes and was awarded a Fulbright Professorship
to serve on the faculty of the Titograd Academy of Music.
The press commented on one of his many performances there:
“Martin Berkofsky from the United States selected
four works from the rich artistic legacy of Franz Liszt, interpreting
their essential content with such an expressive and nuanced
performance that he held the audience spellbound to the end
of the concert. We did not know which first to wonder at:
the total concentration, the expressive performance, the mature
individuality, or rather the brilliant pianistic technique
and intimate experience of the music which, and for which
that evening he lived. It was a musical experience never to
be forgotten.”
Martin
Berkofsky has taught piano master classes to gifted young
pianists who travel from all over the world to study with
a true master. Mr. Berkofsky has had students, all aspiring
concert artists, from such countries as Poland, Turkey and
Russia, as well as from all over the United States. Berkofsky,
along with his Master Class student, Atakan Sari, recently
recorded Alan Hovhaness' Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra
in Moscow, a world premier recording, soon to be released.
It began
modestly in 1998 with Mr. Berkofsky and his students performing
at the Grace Episcopal Church parish hall near Casanova, VA.
until they were moved to the Warrenton Presbyterian Church
where students perform on the church’s outstanding
Bosendorfer concert grand piano. Mr. Berkofsky has always
insisted that there be no set admission fees for concerts,
but donations are accepted. Working through The Cristofori
Foundation, a non-profit organization he created, Mr. Berkofsky
not only provides full scholarships for each student, but
also makes major contributions to local organizations such
as the Fauquier Family Shelter and the Piedmont Regional
Orchestra. When Casanova resident Karen Walton needed a heart
transplant several years ago, Mr. Berkofsky gave a concert
and donated the proceeds, some $20,000, toward helping with
her medical expenses.
CRISTOFORI CONCERTS
musicstars@yahoo.com
Postbox 288
Casanova, Virginia 20139-0288 USA
Tel: 1-540-788-3356 / Fax: 1-540-788-3358
http://members.tripod.com/~CristoforiFund/festival.html
|
