Menahem Pressler left us just a few days before closing our programme (1923-2023).

In the words of Joaquín Achúcarro, Artistic Director of the Valencia Iturbi International Piano Competition, “Master Pressler is irreplaceable. In tribute to his memory, we, the members of the jury, have decided that his chair will remain vacant in the upcoming Competition”.

“Menahem Pressler’s joyous pianism – technically faultless, stylistically impeccable, emotionally irrepressible – is from another age and is a virtually forgotten sensibility. He is a National Treasure”, Los Angeles Times.

Recognized by the French and German governments with the highest honors those countries award to civilians, Menahem Pressler is considered one of the great pianists performing today.

A founding member and the pianist of the Beaux Arts Trio for all of its 51 years, he is one of the world’s most distinguished and honored musicians, with a career that spans nearly seven decades. In December 2022, he turned 99 and continues to teach with the same passion as always.

He was featured in concertos by Mozart and Beethoven with the London Philharmonic, NHK Symphony, and Swedish Radio Symphony, and received rave reviews as the featured soloist with the Berlin Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle during their New Year’s Eve performance broadcast live throughout the world. He also performed with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under the baton of Trevor Pinnock, the Berlin Philharmonic with Seymon Bychkov, and the Mariinsky Orchestra with Valery Gergiev, and has given acclaimed Lieder recitals with Christoph Prégardien and Matthias Goerne. His recitals last season included Tokyo Suntory Hall and Hamburg Elbphilharmonie. His latest recording of French Music for Deutsche Grammophon entitled Clair de Lune came out in 2018. He gives Masterclasses all over the world and is Distinguished Professor at the Jacobs School of Music, University of Indiana in Bloomington since 65 years. He is one of the most lauded musicians of our time.