Yefim Bronfman
Yefim Bronfman is widely regarded as one of today's most talented virtuoso pianists. His
commanding technique and exceptional lyrical gifts have won him consistent critical acclaim
and enthusiastic audiences worldwide, whether for his solo recitals, his prestigious
orchestral engagements, or his rapidly growing catalogue of recordings.
Mr. Bronfman's 2011-2012 season began with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's opening gala
conducted by Riccardo Muti, followed by return engagements to the orchestras of
Philadelphia, Toronto, Portland, and Kansas City, as well as a residency with The Cleveland
Orchestra in Miami, Cleveland, and New York, focusing on the concertos and chamber music of
Brahms. His winter recital tour concludes at Carnegie Hall and is followed by the world
premiere of a concerto by Magnus Lindberg, commissioned for him by the New York
Philharmonic, with whom he tours the West Coast this spring.
In Europe, Mr. Bronfman completes a two-season project, performing the three Bartók
concertos with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Esa-Pekka Salonen in London, Spain, and
Brussels; he also gives recitals in Amsterdam, Vienna, Frankfurt, Milan, and Lucerne. In
partnership with Emmanuel Pahud, he visits Spain, Turkey, Denmark, and London, where he
returns in the spring for concerts with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael
Tilson Thomas. These performances are followed by a tour with the Bavarian Radio Symphony
Orchestra and Esa-Pekka Salonen.
Widely praised for his solo, chamber, and orchestral performances, Mr. Bronfman was
nominated for a Grammy Award in 2009 for his recording of Esa-Pekka Salonen's Piano
Concerto, with the composer conducting. He won a Grammy in 1997 for his recording of the
three Bartók piano concertos with Mr. Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Born in Tashkent in the Soviet Union in 1958, Mr. Bronfman immigrated to Israel with his
family in 1973, where he studied with pianist Arie Vardi, head of the Rubin Academy of
Music at Tel Aviv University. In the United States, he studied at The Juilliard School,
Marlboro Music School and Festival, and Curtis Institute of Music, as well as with Rudolf
Firkušný, Leon Fleisher, and Rudolf Serkin. Mr. Bronfman became an American citizen in
1989.