© E. Hermant

Sony Classical is pleased to announce an exclusive long-term agreement with the visionary young pianist and conductor David Greilsammer. Israeli-born and educated at New York’s Juilliard School, Greilsammer’s audacious approach to music has gained him international acclaim since his concert debut at the Lincoln Center in 2004. Impressing critics and audiences alike with his fascinating concert programmes, Greilsammer has been described as “inspiring and refreshingly different from the norm” (The Daily Telegraph), and his musical interpretation has been noted for its “freshness, elegance, spark, intelligence, simplicity” (Le Monde).

As “an exceptionally sensitive and adventurous artist” (The New York Times) David Greilsammer’s artistic activities show his willingness to break down the traditional borders of classical music. Although celebrated for his innovative interpretation of Mozart – in 2008, after being voted Young Musician of the Year in France, he caused a sensation by performing all of Mozart’s piano sonatas in a single day – his repertoire is much broader and spans from Renaissance and early Baroque to Contemporary and Avant-Garde music. He has given recitals combining John Cage’s sonatas for “prepared piano” with Scarlatti’s harpsichord sonatas, has shared the stage with jazz musicians, and has shone the spotlight on neglected works such as Schulhoff’s Piano Concerto and Nadia Boulanger’s Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra, which he recently performed at the Salle Pleyel in Paris. In 2009 he became Music Director of the Geneva Chamber Orchestra, which he conducts in a tremendously wide variety of repertoire. In addition to his engagements as guest conductor, he is also the artistic director of the Suedama Ensemble in New York, with which he recorded Mozart’s early piano concertos; the resulting disc caused a sensation amongst critics worldwide and was hailed by The Daily Telegraph as one of the “Records of the Year”.

David Greilsammer is passionate about opening up classical music to new and younger audiences. His 2008 solo recording “fantaisie_fantasme” offered a unique encounter between different musical worlds, with a juxtaposition of works from the past and the present. His forthcoming guest residency with the Geneva Chamber Orchestra at the new prestigious Parisian cultural flagship – La Gaité Lyrique – reflects his interest in creating ground-breaking projects, as well as presenting original concerts that mix dance, theatre and music. This residency, launching in Autumn 2011, will spearhead a two-season music programme of exceptional musical events.

David Greilsammer has performed with many leading orchestras, including the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra, and has appeared at major venues and festivals such as the Wigmore Hall in London, the Suntory Hall in Tokyo and the Verbier Festival. His programme for this Spring/Summer includes conducting engagements with the Orchestra Filarmonica di Torino in Turin, the Geneva Chamber orchestra on tour at the Istanbul Music Festival and the Israel Chamber Orchestra in Tel Aviv, as well as a Liszt/Mozart concert at the Lille Piano Festival, and a Renaissance/Baroque solo recital at London’s new performance venue, Kings Place.

His first recording for Sony, to be released in early 2012, will feature a selection of Baroque and Contemporary works for solo piano.

David Greilsammer says: “A beautiful adventure begins! This collaboration with Sony is an extraordinary opportunity for me to explore new worlds, new visions, new ideas, new challenges. The world is changing and it is our responsibility as artists to change with it and take risks – my upcoming recordings for Sony will express this deep belief.”

Bogdan Roscic, President of Sony Classical says: “David Greilsammer is different. That can get you in trouble in an industry in which many are still nervous about anything straying too far from 19th century rules and regulations. David is a deeply serious artist with a unique approach to music – on stage and in the studio. He has a keen understanding of how the context for classical music has changed and he is not shy to draw his own conclusions about what that means for the way it is presented and heard. I look forward to ruffling some more feathers while putting out the outstanding recordings he is capable of.”