Willem Brons ~ piano

Willem Brons made his debut in the Concertgebouw in 1963 and soon became famous for his late Beethoven and Schubert interpretations. In Japan, Brons is considered as one of the most important Schubert interpreters of our time.

During his extensive career Willem Brons performed with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Residentie Orkest and the Rotterdam Philharmonic, with conductors such as Bernard Haitink, Willem van Otterloo, Hans Vonk, Edo de Waart, Charles Mackerras, Francis Travis, André Vandernoot, David Zinman and Lamberto Gardelli. Abroad, Brons performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, l’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, and many other international ensembles including various Japanese orchestras. Typical of his versatility is the involvement with period instruments, in particular the Vienna grand piano from the early 19th century on which Brons has performed all over Europe.

A professor at the Amsterdam Conservatory for over 50 years, Brons is an internationally acclaimed piano pedagogue. He has given masterclasses in many countries, notably Japan, Germany, and Russia (Gnessin Institute, Neuhaus Festival Moscow). Since 1985 Brons organizes his own international masterclass in Amsterdam. Brons has been part of many international juries of piano competitions, notably in Japan and Germany. Brons’ extensive knowledge of music in general and the piano literature in specific has found its way to many journal and magazine articles and tv performances.

In 2003 Willem Brons has been awarded the royal honour of officer in the order of Orange Nassau, a medal for all who have performed acts of special merits  for society.

Willem Brons belongs to this rare group of artists: he is mentally attached to Beethoven’s style.

J. Reichenfelt, NRC Handelsblad