Artur Pizarro was born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1968, and first played the piano on Portuguese television at the age of 4 having been introduced to the instrument by his maternal grandmother, pianist Berta da Nóbrega, and her piano-duo partner Campos Coelho who was a student of Vianna da Motta, Ricardo Viñes and Isidor Philipp. From 1974 to 1990 Artur Pizarro studied with Sequeira Costa who had also been a student of Vianna da Motta, Mark Hamburg, Edwin Fischer, Marguerite Long and Jacques Février. This distinguished lineage immersed Artur in the tradition of the Golden Age of pianism and gave him a broad education in both the German and French piano schools and repertoire.
After initial studies in Lisbon, Artur moved to Lawrence, Kansas in the USA and continued working with Sequeira Costa who is Professor of Piano at the University of Kansas. Artur began performing publicly again at the age of 13 with a recital début at the São Luíz Theatre in Lisbon and gave his concerto debut with the Gulbenkian Orchestra later in the same year. While still under the tutelage of Costa, Artur Pizarro won first prizes in the 1987 Vianna da Motta Competition, the 1988 Greater Palm Beach Symphony Competition and the 1990 Harverys Leeds International Pianoforte Competition which saw the beginning of an international concert career.
Artur Pizarro performs internationally in recital, chamber music and with the world's leading orchestras and conductors including Charles Dutoit, Sir Simon Rattle, Jean Fournier, Philippe Entremont, Pascal Tortelier, Sir Andrew Davis, Esa Pekka Salonen, Yuri Termikanov, Vladimir Fedoseev, and Sir Charles Mackerras. Artur is an active chamber musician and has performed at chamber music festivals throughout the world. In 2005 he formed the ‘Artur Pizarro Piano Trio' with violinist Raphael Oleg and cellist Josephine Knight. Artur also is part of a piano duo with Vita Panomariovaite. In October 2007 Artur and Vita released Rimsky Korsakov - Piano Duos for Linn Records.
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International PianoRavel's piano music has rarely been so magically captured on disc as here
more >>High Fidelity (Danish)Den unge Artur Pizarro er et usædvanligt talent...
more >>ClassicsToday.com...what a phenomenal Gaspard!
more >>Classic FM
Volume two? Bring it on.
more >>Atlanta Audio SocietyPizarro plays scintillating Ravel
more >>Pianistthe Chopin release of the year
more >>Independent on SundayAs well as a super-refined approach to sonority, Pizarro has every note where he wants it, plus the power to whip the increasingly opulent decadence of La Valse up to a shatteringly self-destructive climax
more >>Financial TimesWizardry from Pizarro: Pizarro’s pearl-like clarity casts a spell over music that demands the wizardry of a water-sprite
more >>The Herald
Ravel's warhorses: ...Pizarro’s Ravel is a marriage of clarity, delicacy and unforced virtuosity.
more >>Manchester Evening NewsThe most notable thing about Ravel's piano works, in the opinion of some, is their near-impossibility to play...
more >>BBC Online'This is a very grown-up disc on all counts. I would definitely recommend it...'
more >>The ScotsmanA recording of 'alluring composure'...
more >>Audiophile AuditionA vivid recording of vibrant music, this disc.
more >>Good Soundhis style is overt and dashing
more >>International Record Reviewcourageous and individual
more >>The Observerelegant and assured
more >>The Sunday Times
torrential but sensitively voiced Chopin interpretations
more >>The HeraldA highly collectable disc
more >>The ScotsmanPizarro unravels their expressive worlds
more >>Audiophile Auditiona rich and powerful piano sound
more >>The MetroA brave decision but one with spectacular results
more >>The HeraldAn achingly beautiful performance; a spellbinding array of insights
more >>Audiophile AuditionOne of the most enjoyable Chopin collections on a disc I have heard...
more >>The GuardianFour stars for Artur 'distinctive' playing
more >>International Record ReviewA virtuosic performance from a gifted pianist
more >>The ObserverWaltzes, mazurkas, nocturnes, a polonaise and the Fantasie-Impromptu in C sharp minor: all yield new beauties beneath Pizarro's light but firm, sensitive touch.
more >>Scotland on SundayPizarro produces a clear, almost glacial sound.
more >>Classical CD Review.comA fine collection of piano works.
more >>MusicWeb InternationalA gorgeous piano sound...
more >>The Sunday HeraldUnmissable.
more >>BBCiA dazzling performance
more >>The Sunday TimesPizarro always rises to Beethoven's dramatic challenges
more >>The HeraldIn every way a disc to be sought out.
more >>The ScotsmanA mesmerising mix of showmanship and intellect. Compulsive listening.
more >>GramophonePizarro is not frightened to go his own way...
more >>Hi-Fi Choice...This first disc on the Linn label from Artur Pizarro is a gem...
more >>Atlanta Audio Society...A mastery of the musical, emotional and intellectual power of Beethoven...
more >>BBC Music MagazineA recording "delivered with conviction, intelligence and refined pianism"
more >>International Record ReviewLuminous tonal variety...
more >>The HeraldSnap this one up now.
more >>Hi-Fi ChoiceGreat stuff.
more >>Gramophone...a maker of fine music that can be listened to purely for what it is.
more >>
23 February 2008
Europe
Teatro Garcia de Resende, Évora, Portugal
Four Bach Concerti with Orquestra do Algarve, soloist and directing from keyboard.
05 June 2008
Europe
Festival de Música de Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
Recital of Bach, Mozart, Vorišek, Schumann and Chopin
28 June 2008
Europe
Teatro das Figuras, Faro, Portugal
Mozart Concerti K.459 and K. 482 with Orquestra do Algarve
15 September 2008
Europe
Beethoven Festival, Bonn, Germany
Beethoven violin and piano sonatas with Raphaël Oleg
28 September 2008
Europe
Concerts de Poche, Cesson, France
Concert with the Pizarro Trio (Artur Pizarro, Raphaël Oleg and Josephine Knight)
30 September 2008
Europe
Centro Cultural de Belém, Lisbon, Portugal
Recital of Bach, Mozart, Vorišek, Schumann and Chopin
10 October 2008
to
11 October 2008
Europe
Philharmonic Hall, Warsaw, Poland
Joaquín Rodrigo Concierto Heroico with the Warsaw National Philharmonic
21 October 2008
Europe
Rudolfium Concert Hall, Prague, Czech Republic
Recital, Bach, Mozart, Vorišek, Schumann and Chopin
24 October 2008
England
Canterbury Festival, Canterbury
Recital, Bach, Mozart, Vorišek, Schumann and Chopin
30 October 2008
Scotland
Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Beethoven Piano Concerto No.3 with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras, cond.
31 October 2008
Scotland
City Halls, Glasgow
Beethoven Piano Concerto No.3 with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras, cond.
09 November 2008
Scotland
Queen's Hall, Edinburgh
Recital, Debussy Preludes Book 1 and Schubert Trout Quintet with members of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra
09 December 2008
England, London
Queen Elizabeth Hall
International Piano Series: Recital, Granados Goyescas, Ravel Gaspard de la nuit, Prokofiev Sonata no.7