Yonty Solomon, pianist
© Yonty Solomon
Yonty Solomon has enjoyed a distinguished worldwide career in recitals, concertos and chamber-music. His extensive repertoire includes the complete Bach 48 Preludes and Fugues, Goldberg Variations, all 32 Beethoven Piano Sonatas, the entire piano music of Ravel, Debussy, Janácek and Ives, as well as a broad spectrum of romantic and contemporary music. Richard Rodney Bennett, Sorabji and a number of other composers have dedicated works to Solomon, who has given numerous first performances.
After graduating with highest distinction in both Music and Psychology at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, he continued his studies with Dame Myra Hess, Guido Agosti and Charles Rosen, winning several major piano competitions, including the Harriet Cohen Beethoven Medal.
Yonty Solomon has been soloist throughout the world with many of the most important symphony orchestras. Also with the original Solomon Trio he performed at La Scala, Milan, Geneva, Birmingham Symphony Hall, and the South Bank, London, as well as in Germany, Spain and Italy. He has played duo recitals with many leading musicians, including Mstislav Rostropovich. He has recorded for Decca, Philips, Altarus, Carlton, BBC and other labels. Solomon has worked as musical advisor on television and several films, notably with Shirley MacLaine in John Schlesinger’s movie Madame Sousatzka. He recently performed all-Chopin programmes on Chopin’s own original Broadwood piano at the Oxford Sheldonian Theatre, and in London and Bournemouth.
Prince Charles elected Yonty Solomon a Fellow of the Royal College of Music, where he is currently Professor of Piano. He also is a professor at Trinity College of Music and recently elected President of the Alkan Society.
During the summer of 2005 Yonty Solomon toured Greece, Italy, Denmark and Spain. Also he performed on the South Bank and the Warehouse as well as Chichester Festival Theatre in recitals.
Yonty Solomon sadly died in September 2008.