Nelson Goerner

Photo: Jean Baptiste Millot

Steinway Artist Nelson Goerner is heralded for his performances of the highest art and poetry, while at the same time possessing exhilarating and masterful conviction. In the 2019-20 season, he will give recitals on some of the world’s most important stages, including Paris’s Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, London’s Wigmore Hall, Brussels’ BOZAR and Toulouse’s Cloitre des Jacobins.

A keen chamber musician, Goerner has collaborated with artists such as Martha Argerich, Janine Jansen, Steven Isserlis, Gary Hoffman, Sol Gabetta, and Renaud Capuçon. He has performed with many of today’s major orchestras including the Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, Hallé Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia and NHK Symphony Orchestra, and with several of today’s leading conductors such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Philippe Herreweghe, Neeme Järvi, Sir Mark Elder, Paavo Järvi, Vassily Sinaisky, Jonathan Nott, Fabio Luisi and Esa-Pekka Salonen. His festival appearances include today’s most prestigious engagements, including Salzburg Festival, La Roque d’Anthéron, La Grange de Meslay, Edinburgh International Festival, Festival de Verbier, La Folle Journée (Nantes and Tokyo), Schleswig-Holstein, Warsaw’s ‘Chopin and his Europe’ and the BBC Proms.

Nelson Goerner has a strong relationship with the Mozarteum Argentino in Buenos Aires and enjoys a long association with the Chopin Institute in Warsaw, where he is a member of the artistic advisory committee. He has released several albums of unusual repertoire on the Institute’s own record label, the latest, in 2019, featuring works by Godowski and Paderewski, including the latter’s monumental Variations and Fugue op.23. His recording of the Chopin Ballades and Nocturnes was recognised with a Diapason d’Or.

Goerner records predominantly for Alpha Classics and his discography for them includes works by Chopin, Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy, Schumann, Fauré and Franck. Many of Goerner’s albums have been named “reference” recordings. Accolades include: Diapason d’Or of the Year for his recording of Debussy; BBC Music Magazine’s Recording of the Month for his album of works by Schumann; Choc de Classica and Diapason d’Or for his Chopin Preludes album; plus resounding critical acclaim for his recording of Beethoven’s Hammerklavier Sonata Op 106.

Nelson Goerner was born in San Pedro, Argentina, in 1969. After studying in Argentina with Jorge Garrubba, Juan Carlos Arabian and Carmen Scalcione, he was awarded First Prize in the Franz Liszt Competition in Buenos Aires in 1986. This led to a scholarship to work with Maria Tipo at the Geneva Conservatoire, and in 1990 Nelson Goerner won the First Prize at the Geneva Competition.

Goerner lives in Switzerland with his wife and son. He is a proud and active supporter of the humanitarian organisation, Ammala. He is represented by Intermusica.

Nelson Goerner has been a Steinway Artist since 1991.