BIRET, IDIL (b 1941 )

Idil Biret's gift for music was apparent from the age of three. She was trained at the Paris Conservatoire under the tutelage of Nadia Boulanger, graduating at the age of fifteen with three first prizes. She then continued her studies with Alfred Cortot and was a lifelong disciple of Wilhelm Kempff, who considered her his finest student.Since the age of sixteen, Biret has been giving concerts throughout the world with major orchestras, such as the London Symphony, the Philharmonia, Leningrad Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Dresden Staatskapelle, French National Orchestra, Polish Radio Symphony, Suisse Romande, Tokyo Philharmonic, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Among the eminent conductors she collaborated with are Pierre Monteux, Joseph Keilberth, Hermann Scherchen, Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, Eric Leinsdorf, Rudolf Kempe, Adrian Boult, Malcolm Sargent, Charles Mackerras, Moshe Atzmon, Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos, Andrew Davis and Aaron Copland. Biret has participated at festivals in Montreal, Berlin, Paris, Nohant, Athens, Persepolis, Dubrovnik, Royan, Montpellier and Istanbul. She has performed Beethoven's violin sonatas with Yehudi Menuhin and the Mozart's concerto for two pianos with Wilhelm Kempff. She has been a member in the juries of many competitions including the Van Cliburn (USA), Queen Elisabeth (Belgium), Montreal (Canada), Busoni (Italy), Liszt (Weimar, Germany). She has received the following awards: Lily Boulanger Memorial, Boston; Harriet Cohen - Dinu Lipatti gold medal, London; Adelaide Ristori prize, Italy; Artistic Merit, Poland; Chevalier de l'Ordre du Merite, France; State Artist, Turkey.

Over the years Biret has made more than seventy records including the world premiere recording of Liszt's piano transcriptions of al nine Beethoven Symphonies. For Naxos, she recorded the complete solo piano works and all the concertos of Chopin, Brahms, Rachmaninov and the three piano sonatas of Pierre Boulez. In 1995 her recording of the complete works of Chopin was awarded a "Grand Prix du Disque Chopin" in Poland. The same year, her recording of the Boulez sonatas won the annual Golden Diapason award and was selected among the best recordings of the year by Le Monde in France.Biret has over one hundred concertos and all the major solo piano works in her repertory. She has given performances of the complete cycles of the piano works of Beethoven and Brahms. In the 1980s and 1990s she performed Beethoven's 32 sonatas, the 5 piano concertos and the piano transcriptions of his 9 Symphonies by Liszt (broadcast live by Radio France). In 1997, she gave performances of all the solo piano works and the two concertos of Brahms during the centennial anniversary of the composer's death.

The President of Poland, Lech Kaczyński, presented Idil Biret the "Medal of Merit of the Republic of Poland" at the Polish Embassy in Ankara during a state visit on 23rd January 2007 "for her outstanding efforts in spreading the music of Chopin throughout the world with her recordings and performances of the composer's work".

For more information, please visit www.idilbiret.org, or www.idilbiret.gen.tr/

Albums featuring this artist are available for download from ClassicsOnline.com
20 YEARS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC: Naxos Anniversary Collection (Naxos Denmark)	8.570598
21ST CENTURY CINEMA CLASSICS	8.556698
A LA DECOUVERTE DU CLASSIQUE	8.550037-38
A to Z of Classical Music	8.553362
A TO Z OF CLASSICAL MUSIC	8.555319-20
Art & Music: Manet - Music of His Time	8.558117
Art & Music: Turner - Music of His Time	8.558116
ART OF IDIL BIRET (THE)	8.554224DX
BACH: Piano Transcriptions	8.551227
BOULEZ: Piano Sonatas Nos. 1-3	8.553353
BRAHMS (THE BEST OF)	8.556659
BRAHMS: 51 Exercises, WoO 6	8.553425
BRAHMS: Hungarian Dances / Waltzes, Op. 39	8.550355
BRAHMS: Intermezzi, Op. 117 / Piano Pieces, Opp. 118-119	8.550354
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 1 / SCHUMANN: Introduction and Concerto-Allegro	8.554088
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 2 / SCHUMANN: Introduction and Allegro appassionato	8.554089
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 2 / SCHUMANN: Introduction and Concert-Allegro	8.571017
BRAHMS: Piano Pieces, Op. 76 / Rhapsodies, Op. 79 / Phantasies, Op. 116	8.550353
BRAHMS: Piano Sonata No. 3 / SCHUMANN: Piano Sonata No. 2	8.553236
BRAHMS: Piano Sonata No. 3, Op. 5 / Ballades, Op. 10	8.550352
BRAHMS: Piano Sonatas No. 1, Op. 1 and No. 2, Op. 2	8.550351
BRAHMS: The Best of Brahms	8.551109
BRAHMS: Theme and Variations / Sarabandes / Gavottes	8.550958
BRAHMS: Variations Opp. 9, 24 and 35	8.550350
BRAHMS: Variations, Op. 21 / 5 Piano Studies	8.550509
BRAHMS: Waltzes / Cadenzas / Die schone Magelone	8.553426
CAFE CLASSICS (AUSTRALIA ONLY)	8.555258-59
CENTRE (THE), Vol. 1	8.554901-02DX
CHILDREN'S CLASSICS - LULLABY	8.554912DX
CHILDREN'S CLASSICS, VOL. 3	8.554573
CHILL WITH CHOPIN	8.556784
CHILL WITH RACHMANINOV	8.556782
CHILL WITH TCHAIKOVSKY	8.556785
CHOPIN (THE BEST OF)	8.556654
CHOPIN (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552107-08
CHOPIN : WALTZES (COMPLETE)	8.550365DX
CHOPIN: Ballades / Berceuse Op. 57 / Fantasie Op. 49	8.550508
CHOPIN: Ballades / Fantaisie in F Minor / Galop Marquis	8.554527
CHOPIN: Etudes, Opp. 10 and 25	8.550364
CHOPIN: Etudes, Opp. 10 and 25	8.554528
CHOPIN: Fantasia on Polish Airs / Andante spianato / Krakowiak	8.554541
CHOPIN: Mazurkas, Vol. 1	8.550358
CHOPIN: Mazurkas, Vol. 1	8.554529
CHOPIN: Mazurkas, Vol. 2	8.550359
CHOPIN: Mazurkas, Vol. 2	8.554530
CHOPIN: Nocturnes	8.571023
CHOPIN: Nocturnes (Selection)	8.554045
CHOPIN: Nocturnes, Vol. 1	8.550356
CHOPIN: Nocturnes, Vol. 1	8.554531
CHOPIN: Nocturnes, Vol. 2	8.550357
CHOPIN: Nocturnes, Vol. 2	8.554532
CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No. 1 / Fantasia on Polish Airs / Andante Spianato	8.550368
CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No. 2 / Allegro de concert / Andante spianato and Grand Polonaise	8.571021
CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No. 2 / FIELD: Piano Concerto No. 1	8.554680
CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No. 2 / Krakowiak	8.550369
CHOPIN: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2	8.554540
CHOPIN: Piano Favourites	8.554046
CHOPIN: Piano Favourites, Vol. 1	8.553170
CHOPIN: Piano Favourites, Vol. 2	8.555799
CHOPIN: Piano Sonatas Nos. 1-3	8.550363
CHOPIN: Piano Sonatas Nos. 1-3	8.554533
CHOPIN: Polonaises, Vol. 1	8.550360
CHOPIN: Polonaises, Vol. 1	8.554534
CHOPIN: Polonaises, Vol. 2	8.550361
CHOPIN: Polonaises, Vol. 2	8.554535
CHOPIN: Preludes / Barcarolle, Op. 60 / Bolero, Op. 19	8.554536
CHOPIN: Romantic Chopin (The)	8.552214
CHOPIN: Romantic Chopin (The)	8.570079
CHOPIN: Rondos and Variations	8.550367
CHOPIN: Rondos and Variations	8.554537
CHOPIN: Scherzi and Impromptus (Complete)	8.550362
CHOPIN: Scherzos / Impromptus / Allegro de concert	8.554538
CHOPIN: Waltzes (Complete)	8.550365
CHOPIN: Waltzes / Polonaises	8.571022
CHOPIN: Waltzes, Nos. 1-19 / Ecossaises, Op. 72 / Tarantelle, Op. 43	8.554539
CINEMA CLASSICS	8.571090
CINEMA CLASSICS 1998	8.551182
CINEMA CLASSICS 1999	8.551183
CINEMA CLASSICS 2003	8.556696
CINEMA CLASSICS 2005	8.556814
CINEMA CLASSICS 2007	8.556834
CINEMA CLASSICS, Vol. 6	8.556626
CINEMA CLASSICS, Vol. 8	8.556628
CINEMA CLASSICS, Vol. 9	8.556629
CINEMA CLASSICS, Vol. 10	8.551160
CINEMA CLASSICS, Vol. 10	8.556630
CLASSICAL CHILLOUT - The Essential Collection	8.570223-24
CLASSICAL MOMENTS 6: Classical Music to Study to	8.555362
CLASSICAL MUG (THE)	8.557089DX
CLASSICS AT THE MOVIES - SUSPENSE	8.556810
CLASSICS AT THE MOVIES: DIVAS	8.556806
Classics at the Movies: Drama	8.556807
Classics at the Movies: Thrillers	8.556809
Classics at the Movies: War	8.556808
CLASSICS FOR LOVERS	8.570013-14
DISCOVER CLASSICAL MUSIC	8.550008-09
Discover Music of the Romantic Era	8.558155-56
Discover Music of the Twentieth Century	8.558168-69
DISCOVER THE CLASSICS, VOL. 1	8.550035-36
Elegie: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556612
Etude: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556611
Family Symphony	8.557479DX
FAMOUS PIANO PIECES	8.571109
FUR ELISE - BEST OF ROMANTIC PIANO MUSIC	8.550647DX
FUR ELISE - ROMANTIC PIANO MUSIC	8.550647
Intermezzo: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556616
KEMPFF: Italian Suite / Piano Sonata / Transcriptions	8.223452
KLASSIK HIGHLIGHTS - Music for the 20th Anniversary of Naxos	8.550020
KLAVIER GALA	8.551225-26
Liebesleid: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556615
LIGETI: Etudes, Books 1 and 2	8.555777
LISTEN, LEARN AND GROW, Vol. 2: Lullabies	8.554790
LISZT: Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique (Transcription)	8.550725
LISZT: Piano Sonata in B Minor / CHOPIN: Sonatas Nos. 1 and 2	8.553237
MASTERPIECES OF THE ROMANTIC PIANO	8.553252
MEDITATION	8.571075
Meditation: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556614
MOONLIGHT CLASSICS	8.550223DX
Music for Kids CD 8: Music from Planet Earth	8.558021
MY PIANO ALBUM 1	8.554908DX
NAXOS 15TH ANNIVERSARY CD	8.555964
NAXOS SELECTION: Highlights	8.571000
Night Music, Vol. 11	8.551131
NOCTURNE - Late Night Piano Music (Sweden only)	8.557292
Nocturne: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556620
PERFECT ROMANCE	8.570029
PIANO MUSIC FOR CHILDREN	8.550885
PIANO MUSIC FOR CHILDREN	8.550885DX
PIANO MUSIC FOR CHILDREN	8.571104
Polish Heart (The)	8.554774
RACHMANINOV (THE BEST OF)	8.556682
RACHMANINOV (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552113-14
RACHMANINOV: 13 Preludes, Op. 32 / KREISLER: Liebesleid and Liebesfreud (arr. S. Rachmaninov)	8.550466
RACHMANINOV: Etudes-Tableaux, Opp. 33 and 39	8.550347
RACHMANINOV: Morceaux de salon / Three Nocturnes	8.553004
RACHMANINOV: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 4 / Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini	8.554477
RACHMANINOV: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 and 3	8.554376
RACHMANINOV: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 and 3	8.571055
RACHMANINOV: Piano Sonatas Nos. 1 and 2	8.553003
RACHMANINOV: Piano Transcriptions and Arrangements	8.550978
RACHMANINOV: Preludes Op. 23 / Cinq morceaux de fantaisie	8.550348
RACHMANINOV: Variations on a Theme of Chopin / Preludes	8.554426
RACHMANINOV: Variations on a Theme of Corelli / Moments Musicaux, Op. 16	8.550349
Rhapsody: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556617
ROMANCE	8.553216
Romanza: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556618
SAINT-SAENS (THE BEST OF)	8.556675
SAINT-SAENS: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 and 4	8.550334
SAINT-SAENS: Symphony No. 3 / Piano Concerto No. 2	8.553277
Sarabande: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556613
SCHUMANN, R.: Fantasiestucke, Op. 12 / BRAHMS: Klavierstucke, Op. 118	8.553251
SENTIMENTAL CLASSICS	8.550227DX
Serenade: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556619
STRAVINSKY: Firebird (The) (Piano Transcription)	8.555999
Ten Years Of Success	8.554103
WITH LOVE TO YOU	8.557789