Skip to main content

Kristian Bezuidenhout, pianoforte

Kristian Bezuidenhout is one of today’s most notable and exciting keyboard artists, equally at home on the fortepiano, harpsichord, and modern piano. Born in South Africa in 1979, he began his studies in Australia, completed them at the Eastman School of Music, and now lives in London. After initial training as a pianist with Rebecca Penneys, he explored early keyboards, studying harpsichord with Arthur Haas, fortepiano with Malcolm Bilson, and continuo playing and performance practice with Paul O’Dette. Kristian first gained international recognition at the age of 21 after winning the prestigious first prize, and audience prize in the Bruges Fortepiano Competition.

Kristian is a regular guest with the world’s leading ensembles including the Freiburger Barockorchester, Les Arts Florissants, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Orchestre des Champs Elysées, Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest, Chicago Symphony Orchestra & the Leipzig Gewandhausorchester; and has guest-directed (from the keyboard) the English Concert, Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, Tafelmusik, Collegium Vocale, Juilliard 415 and the Kammerakademie Potsdam, & Dunedin Consort (Bach St. Matthew Passion).

He has performed with celebrated artists including John Eliot Gardiner, Philippe Herreweghe, Bernhard Haitink, Daniel Harding, Frans Brüggen, Trevor Pinnock, Giovanni Antonini, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Isabelle Faust, Alina Ibragimova, Rachel Podger, Carolyn Sampson, Anne Sofie von Otter, Mark Padmore & Matthias Goerne.

Kristian’s rich and award-winning discography on Harmonia Mundi includes the complete keyboard music of Mozart (Diapason d’Or de L’année, Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, & Caecilia Prize);  the complete Piano Concertos of Beethoven with the Freiburger Barockorchester; Bach Violin Sonatas w. Isabelle Faust; Mozart Violin Sonatas with Petra Müllejans; Mendelssohn and Mozart Piano Concertos with the Freiburger Barockorchester (ECHO Klassik); Beethoven, & Mozart Lieder, and Schumann Dichterliebe with Mark Padmore (Edison Award). In 2013 he was nominated as Gramophone Magazine’s Artist of the Year. Upcoming releases include two discs of Mozart Piano Concertos with the Freiburger Barockorchester to be recorded in May 2021.

In the 20/21 season, Kristian appears as a soloist with Essener Philharmoniker/Richard Egarr,  Les Arts Florissants/William Christie, Kammerorchester Basel/Giovanni Antonini, Orchestre National de France/Emmanuel Krivine and Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra/Klaus Makela. His play-direct visits include Concerto Copenhagen, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Freiburger Barockorchester and English Concert. Kristian gives solo recitals, continues his close recital partnership with Anne Sofie von Otter and new collaborations with Voces 8 and Niek Baar.

About the Colmar International Festival

8 rue Kleber
68000 Colmar
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel: +33 (0)3 89 20 68 97

President: Francis Hirn
Artistic Director: Alain Altinoglu
Director: Claire Weiss

The Colmar International Festival is organised by the Colmar and Region Tourist Office

Press relations: Johny Royer
Tel: 03 89 20 69 10 / Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Subscribe to the Festival Newsletter

They support us

INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS

Logo Colmar
Logo Grand Est
Logo CEA
Logo Caisse des Dépôts

SPONSORS

Logo Crédit Mutuel
Logo caisse d'épargne
Logo caisse CIC EST
Logo Banque Populaire
Logo AG2R Arpège
Logo DNA
Logo L'Alsace
Logo Wolfberger
Logo Fortwenger
Logo Ancel
Logo MGallery
Logo Esquisse
Logo Maison des Têtes
Logo LK Tours
Logo VEOLIA SAPR
Logo Joué Club
Logo Vialis
Logo SCCU
Logo Cofimé
Logo Corplex
Logo Arpèges
Logo Weishaupt
Logo Rustyle

PARTNERS

Logo Wattwiller
Logo BMW
Logo ACA
Logo Théâtre
Logo CNSMDP

MEDIA PARTNERS

Logo France Musique
Logo ARTE
Logo L'Eloge
Logo TV7
Logo ConcertClassic.com
Logo Accent4

HOTEL PARTNERS

Logo Hotel Le Maréchal
Logo James boutique Hotel
Logo Ibis Colmar centre
Logo hotel-le-colombier
Logo Hotel turenne
Logo novotel suites
Logo hotel Mercure
Logo Ibis Styles