Boris Giltburg

The Moscow-born, Israeli pianist is lauded across the globe as a deeply sensitive, insightful and compelling interpreter. Critics have praised his “singing line, variety of touch and broad dynamic palette capable of great surges of energy” (Washington Post) as well as his impassioned, narrative-driven approach to performance.

Giltburg is widely recognized as a leading interpreter of Rachmaninov. He celebrates Rachmaninov’s 150th anniversary this season by continuing his acclaimed cycle of recordings of Rachmaninov’s solo works, performing Rachmaninov concerti with the BBC Symphony, Czech Philharmonic, and Finnish Radio Symphony, among others, and playing the complete cycle with the Brussels Philharmonic. Recital appearances in 2023 featuring Rachmaninov include Stuttgart Liederhalle, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Duesseldorf Tonhalle, and Birmingham Town Hall.

In recent years Giltburg has engaged in a series of in-depth explorations of other major composers also, including Ravel, whose solo works he has played at Bozar, Flagey, the Amsterdam Muziekgebouw, and Wigmore Hall; and whose concerti he has performed with the Orchestre National de France, Brussels Philharmonic, and Residentie Orkest. In 2020 Giltburg recorded and filmed all 32 of Beethoven’s piano sonatas, and also recorded Beethoven’s complete concerti with Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. This season Giltburg begins an exploration of Chopin’s music, including a recital series at Wigmore Hall.

Giltburg is a consummate recording artist and has been exclusive to Naxos since 2015, winning the Opus Klassik Award for Best Soloist Recording for Rachmaninov concerti and Etudes Tableaux, and a Diapason d’Or for Shostakovich concerti and his own arrangement of Shostakovich’s Eighth String Quartet.

Giltburg feels a strong need to engage audiences beyond the concert hall. His blog “Classical music for all” is aimed at a non-specialist audience, which he complements with articles in publications such as Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine, Guardian, Times and Fono Forum.