Nelson Goerner

Nelson Goerner ranks among the foremost pianists of his era and earns particular acclaim for his penetrating Chopin readings, which dominate much of his recorded output. Even so, his programming spans a wide spectrum that encompasses Beethoven, Schumann, Liszt, and living composers such as Edward Gregson and Jon Lord. He regularly explores chamber repertoire and two-piano literature, maintaining an active international touring schedule.

Born in San Pedro, Argentina, on 9 May 1969, Goerner demonstrated precocious literacy by the age of three and began piano lessons in early childhood. He pursued advanced training at the Buenos Aires Conservatory under Juan Carlos Arabian. A decisive early victory came in 1986 when he captured first prize at the Franz Liszt Piano Competition in Buenos Aires, followed soon afterward by his debut with the Buenos Aires Philharmonic Orchestra. While sustaining concert activity, he continued lessons with Carmen Scalcione. Martha Argerich facilitated scholarships that enabled him to enter the Geneva Conservatory to study with Maria Tipo. His triumph at the 1990 Concours International d’Execution Musicale Genève propelled him onto the global stage, after which he toured extensively throughout the Americas and appeared frequently in Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, and other countries. Concert platforms have included the Leipzig Gewandhaus, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, and Milan’s Sala Verdi, while orchestral engagements have featured the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Montreal Symphony, London Philharmonic, and Tokyo NHK Symphony. Frequent partners include the Takács Quartet, violinist Vadim Repin, and cellist Steven Isserlis; in two-piano works he has appeared alongside Argerich and his wife, Rusudan Alavidze.

Goerner’s recordings appear on EMI, Chandos, Cascavelle, and additional labels. His 1997 EMI debut—an all-Chopin program containing the Third Sonata—drew enthusiastic critical response. By the early years of the twenty-first century he had established himself as a prominent international figure. A 2003 Wigmore Hall recital of music by Schumann, Debussy, and Stravinsky counted among his many critical successes. Subsequent releases include the 2005 Cascavelle Rachmaninov disc featuring the demanding Second Sonata and the 2008 EMI recording of Lord’s Piano Concerto. Performances of Beethoven and Chopin at the 2009 Verbier Festival, later issued on a 2010 Euroarts DVD, likewise garnered widespread praise. In 2019 he released Brahms’ Piano Sonata No. 3 together with the Paganini Variations on the Alpha label.