Internationally acclaimed pianist Idil Biret has performed with major orchestras around the world, taught master classes at major music academies, and judged numerous international competitions. Her hundreds of recordings of during a seven-decade career comprise the largest and broadest repertoire of any classical pianist, ever. Idil is among today’s most enjoyed classical pianists with 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Child Prodigy
Sent by vote of the Turkish legislature to study with Nadia Boulanger at the Conservatoire in Paris at age 7, Idil went on to study with Alfred Cortot, and Wilhelm Kempff was a lifelong mentor. At her Paris debut in 1953 Idil performed Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos with Wilhelm Kempff at the Champs Elysees Theatre in Paris. She graduated from the Conservatoire at 16 to a solo career with major orchestras including the Boston Symphony, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Leningrad Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Sydney Symphony, and Tokyo Philharmonic.
“At age two, she amazed us by recognizing melodies she heard. After listening to orchestral music, she would detect the main melody, then play it on the piano with one finger. At four she would play with two hands and with the correct harmony.”
– Leman Biret
National Cultural Icon
A national hero, newspapers ran illustrated stories of Idil’s youth in Paris for Turkish school children. Streets have been named for her all over Turkey, and every year thousands of Turkish girls are named ‘Idil’. A national treasure, Idil Biret represents Turkish culture to the world; she maintains friendships with diplomats, politicians, musicians, and artists globally.
Moscow Debut at 19
At the invitation of Russian pianist Emil Gilels, Idil toured the Soviet Union in 1960. Her sixteen recitals and concerts included Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Odessa, and other cities. Sovietkaia Kultura wrote:
“No doubt remained as soon as the piano began to reverberate: on the stage was a first class musician and a maestro…“
– The art of Idil Biret gives joy and emotion.
1963 U.S. Debut: A Tragic Day
Idil Biret’s US debut took place on the 22nd of November, 1963. She played Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Piano Concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. President John F. Kennedy’s death was announced during the first part of the concert, but the show went on.
“A great healing took place as Miss Biret lifted our hearts above the mists; clouds parted; great shafts of light poured through as she evoked the passion and ardor of Rachmaninoff’s sweeping themes.”
– Harold Rogers, Christian Science Monitor
Library of Congress
In April 2020, The Library of Congress added the recording of Idil’s concert with the Boston Symphony on November 22, 1963 to the Library’s National Recording Registry. These are recordings of enduring importance to American society that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant,” thus in need of permanent preservation. Annually, the Librarian of Congress makes twenty-five selections to be added to the Registry after reviewing hundreds of titles nominated by the public and after conferring with the Library’s curators and the members of the National Recording Preservation Board.
Global Recognition
Idil is best known for her interpretations and recordings of the works of Chopin, but has an extensive repertoire reaching from Bach to contemporary composers. Her hundreds of recordings during a seven-decade career comprise the largest and broadest repertoire of any classical pianist.
She has performed around the world, taught master classes at major music academies, and judged international competitions.
Idil Biret is a national treasure, and has represented Turkish culture to the world, maintaining friendships with diplomats, politicians, musicians, and artists globally. Today, Idil is among the most enjoyed classical pianists with close to 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify.