Connection between poetry and music
The connection between poetry and music is for Tzimon Barto of utmost importance and meaning, both as a pianist and in his writings. This is also apparent in his musical interpretations: he takes an exceedingly personal and unconventional approach, captivating audiences with his zeal, exquisite sense of tonal color, subtle nuances and a superb technique. A colorful, surpassingly varied range of expressive elements from feather-light melodic lines to expressive chord series characterize his performance.
One of the foremost American pianists
As one of the foremost American pianists, Tzimon Barto performs on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and in Asia. His international breakthrough occurred in the mid-1980’s when he performed at the Wiener Musikverein and the Salzburger Festspiele on invitation of Herbert von Karajan. Tzimon Barto has since played with every major international orchestra and is regularly invited to many festivals.
Career
Wolfgang Rihm dedicated his Second Piano Concerto to Tzimon Barto. The piece was premiered at the Salzburger Festspiele 2014 with the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, followed by a tour in Germany and Italy. After the American premiere with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, it was presented to audiences in Munich, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Stuttgart and Freiburg. It has also been performed in 2016/17, as part of his residency with the SWR Symphonieorchester. After a major focus on the piano concertos by Brahms and Bartók, this season Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F major is in the foreground.
Extensive discography
Tzimon Barto’s extensive discography includes albums featuring works by Haydn, Rameau, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Schumann and Brahms. His latest release is dedicated to the Busoni version of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, as well as the Paganini Variations of Liszt, Brahms, Lutoslawski and Rachmaninoff. The seldom heard Piano Concerto by Hans Pfitzner in E-flat Major has been released under the Dresdner Staatskapelle label conducted by Christian Thielemann.
Childhood, youth and study
Born and raised in Central Florida, Tzimon Barto received his first piano lessons by his paternal grandmother at the age of five. He studied under the famous music-pedagogue and pianist Adele Marcus at the Juilliard School of Music in New York, where he won the Gina Bachauer Competition in two consecutive years.
Barto Prize
In 2006 he initiated “The Barto Prize”, promoting contemporary piano compositions in a bi-annual international competition and integrates the winning composition in his concert schedule.
Interests and Projects
Tzimon Barto is an avid student of literature and languages. He speaks five living languages fluently, and currently studies Mandarin. He reads Ancient Greek, Hebrew and Latin. His book “A Lady of Greek Origin” was published in 2001 and 2008 and a stage version was performed in Frankfurt and Vienna. In 2010, his novel “Harold Flanders” was published. His literary and poetic body of work is ever expanding.
