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The German-born American pianist, Daniel Blumenthal, had his first music studies at age 5 in Paris, and throughout his childhood he exhibited unusual keyboard talent. Later on he enrolled at American University in Washington, DC, then continued studies at the University of Michigan, where he received his Bachelor of Music. He received his Master of Music degree and Doctor of Musical Arts from the Juilliard School of Music in New York.. Blumenthal has indicated that his most important teachers over the years were Charles Crowder, Marian Owen, Charles Fisher, Josef Raieff, Jean Fassina, and Benjamin Kaplan. Probably the most important of this distinguished group is Kaplan, with whom Blumenthal studied in London following graduation from Juilliard. In the early 1980's, Blumenthal won a string of important competitions: the Sydney International Piano Competition, The Leeds (both in 1981), the Geneva International Music Competition, the Busoni Competition (both 1982), and the Queen Elizabeth (1983).
Thereafter, Daniel Blumenthal quickly rose to international fame and began performing regularly with many of the world's finest orchestras and in some of the most distinguished concert halls, including Carnegie Hall (1983). His recordings soon began appearing, too, and have continued to stream out in varied repertoire. He enjoys an international reputation as soloist, concert musician and chamber musician. He is known for his versatility and large repertoire, which spans an amazing range of music by such diverse composers as J.S. Bach, Joplin, Ferruccio Busoni, Frédéric Chopin, Gershwin, Prokofiev, Joseph Marx, Arensky, Schubert, Carl Czerny, and many others. In the new century he often favors chamber music collaborations with other well-known artists, as in his February 24, 2006, concert at Carnegie Hall where he played a program of works by Prokofiev, W.A. Mozart, and Schubert with violinist Yossif Ivanov.
Daniel Blumenthal's discography includes over 80 recordings for numerous labels, including Naxos (Devreese piano concertos), Pavane (F. Busoni's piano works), and Angel Records (Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, et. al.).
Daniel Blumenthal is Professor at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels, and of the Thy Masterclass Chamber Music Festival in Denmark. In 1995 he was on the jury of the Queen Elisabeth Competition for Piano. He is an honorary member and musical advisor of Icons of Europe, Brussels. |
