Boris Berman

Boris Berman, born in Moscow in 1948, is a pianist of Russian origin who spent much of his career in the United States. He trained at the Moscow Conservatory, where he studied with Lev Oborin between 1965 and 1971.

During those years he took part in the Russian premieres of works by Ligeti, Berio, Stockhausen and Cage, and also in the first performances of Denisov's Ode and Schnittke's Serenade. In 1973 he emigrated to Israel, where he taught for six years at Tel Aviv University.

After settling in the United States in 1979, he held a variety of teaching posts. From 1984 to 1997 he headed the piano department at Yale University, where he also organised the Yale Music Spectrum concert series. He is best known for his recordings of Prokofiev's complete piano music, performances notable for their power, clarity and elegance.