Benjamin Hochman, Piano
"This pianist has an ability to make the piano sing...Hochman is so adept...that one just wants to weep."
-David Lowry, Free Times, Columbia
Anthony Tommasini of The New York Times: “… as I listened to the pianist Benjamin Hochman’s sensitive, exciting renditions of four . . . works . . . of theme and variation, I kept thinking that classical music doesn’t get better than this.” Mr. Tommasini named Mr. Hochman’s Variations recital as one of his top ten classical music events of the year.
Pianist Benjamin Hochman’s eloquent and virtuosic performances (see 11/18 program below) blend colorful artistry with poetic interpretation, exciting audiences and critics alike. He performs in major cities around the world as a respected orchestral soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician, working with a celebrated array of renowned conductors and colleagues. An impassioned and intelligent exponent of diverse composers, from Bach and Mozart to Kurtág and Lieberson, he strives to express the essence of each composer’s works, resulting in interpretations that the Vancouver Sun described as “stylish and lucid, with patrician authority and touches of elegant wit. . .”
Mr. Hochman has been selected to participate in prestigious residencies around the world— e.g., CMS Two at the Chamber Music Society-Lincoln Center; Isaac Stern's International Chamber Music Encounters, Israel; Carnegie Hall's Professional Training Workshops—and has been awarded the "Outstanding Pianist" citation at Verbier Academy, the Festorazzi Award from the Curtis Institute of Music, . . . the "Partosh Prize" (from) the Israeli Minister of Culture for best performance of an Israeli work, and first prize at the National Piano Competition, Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem. Performance broadcasts include NPR's Young Artist Showcase and Performance Today, WNET’s Sunday Arts, WQXR, CBC Canada, ABC Australia, Radio France, Israel's Voice of Music, and the European television network Mezzo.
Through concerts with the New York Philharmonic and American Symphony orchestras, a Carnegie Hall debut with the Israel Philharmonic, and a succession of prominent recital and chamber performances, Mr. Hochman readily established a vibrant, venerated musical presence. Following his debut with the Chicago Symphony in the Mozart Piano Concerto project with Pinchas Zukerman . . ., he performed his Los Angeles Philharmonic debut at the Hollywood Bowl and was engaged for three series with the Pittsburgh Symphony. He has performed with the Chicago, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Houston, Seattle, Vancouver, New Jersey, and Portland Symphonies, the New York String Orchestra, IRIS Orchestra in Memphis, Prague Philharmonia, Istanbul State Orchestra, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Canada.
In 2009, Mr. Hochman’s debut solo recording, Introducing Benjamin Hochman: Bach, Berg, and Webern, was released by Artek. His second and third solo CDs, Homage to Schubert and Variations—the latter based upon his recital of the same name—were released to critical acclaim by Avie records in 2013 and 2015, respectively. Represented by Kirshbaum Associates, Mr. Hochman is a Steinway Artist who also enjoys an active and fast-rising conducting career.
On November 18th, a few fortunate individuals will have the opportunity to join Mr. Hochman in the intimate and acoustically excellent Florence Henry Memorial Chapel for an exquisite evening of classics and new introductions, featuring:
Bach: French Suite No. 5 in G
Mozart: Sonata in A minor, K. 310
Jesse Brault: New work
Chopin: Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
Join in welcoming Mr. Hochman to Seattle!