Beatrice Berrut, Switzerland, 2014

Described as “a wonderfully talented and musical pianist with impressive seriousness, commitment and sensitivity” by Gidon Kremer and as a “revelation” by the Buenos Aires Naciòn, the young Swiss pianist Beatrice Berrut is no stranger to the international stage. She has played numerous concerts throughout Europe and America, at prestigious venues such as Bennett Gordon Hall in Chicago for the Ravinia Festival, Chopin Academy Hall in Warsaw, Konzerthaus Berlin, Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, Victoria Hall in Geneva, TeatroColiseo of Buenos Aires...

The winner of the Société des Arts Competition in Geneva, Beatrice was the Swiss laureate at the Eurovision Contest for young classical musicians, going on to represent Switzerland at the European Contest in Berlin. She also won Bach special award at Wiesbaden International Piano Competition in 2009, and in 2011 she was awarded the “Revelacion” prize by the Argentinian Critics’ Assocation for her concerts in Argentina with ShlomoMintz.

Beatrice was born in the Swiss canton of Valais in 1985, and started the piano aged 9, first in Lausanne with Pierre Goy, and chamber music with Pierre Amoyal, before being accepted to study at the Neuhaus Foundation in Zurich under renowned pianist Esther Yellin. She then graduated from the HochschulefürMusik "HannsEisler" in Berlin, where she studied with Galina Iwanzowa. She now receives regular mentoring from John O’Conor.

Since the release of her debut CD in 2003 on the AMIE label, featuring works by Beethoven, Schumann and Liszt, Beatrice Berrut has been in demand to play as a soloist in prestigious venues, either on recital, or with numerous orchestras such as the Orchestra dellaSvizzeraItaliana, Kammerphilharmonie Berlin, Menuhin Chamber Orchestra, Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra… She also appears regularly on Swiss, German, US, French and Canadian radio and television (BBC3, WFMT Chicago, CWKR, ZDF, Sat3, France Musique, Espace 2, RTBF…).

Released in 2011, her last album featuring Schumann’s complete piano Sonatas on the American label CENTAUR RECORDS has gained international critical acclaim.

A keen chamber musician, in 2005 Beatrice was personally invited by Gidon Kremer to play several concerts at his festival in Basel, and in 2007 and 2008 by ShlomoMintz to his festival in Sion, as well as for a duo recitals tour in Argentina in September 2011. In August 2011 she performed Schumann Quintet with Itzhak Perlman in the Hamptons, NY. In 2010 and 2011 she was invited by Miriam Fried to be a fellow at the Steans Music Institute at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago.

She is a member of the Trio Saint-Exupéry, together with Lorenzo Gatto (violin) and Camille Thomas (cello).

She is influenced heavily by her regular work with pianists such as MenahemPressler, Brigitte Engerer, or Leon Fleisher and Alon Goldstein.

Beatrice is a Steinway Artist.

She is passionate about skiing and aviation, and is studying for a pilot’s license.

During the 2012-2013 season she will make her debuts at Wigmore Hall in London, at the Jerusalem Music Centre, at the Tel Aviv Conservatory and at the Berliner Philharmonie, as well as for the ARTE Channel.

Review

“…The Valaisan pianist Beatrice Berrut has offered us another subtle insight into Scriabine’s Second Sonata through her intimate, sensual, vivid playing…”

- Jürgen Scharf, Südkurier

“…Graceful: the young Valaisan pianist Beatrice Berrut, who brought to Scriabine’s Second Sonatagraceful and insistent vigour and finely executed arabesques…"

- Klaus Schweizer, Basler Zeitung

“…a finely executed interpretation, with depth, and an obvious refusal of showing off, of ostentatious heroism, of flashy virtuosity…"

- MatthieuChenal, le 24 Heures