Bart Berman

Bart Berman (born in Rotterdam, December 29, 1938) is a Dutch-Israeli pianist and composer, best known as an interpreter of Franz Schubert and 20th century music.

Bart Berman studied piano with Jaap Spaanderman at a predecessor of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and complemented his piano education with Theo Bruins and a master class by Alfred Brendel.

As a soloist Berman was awarded the Dutch Prize of Excellence, the first prize in the Gaudeamus Competition for interpreters of contemporary music, the Friends of the Concertgebouw Award and four first prizes at competitions for young soloists. He performs in Israel, Europe and the United States, as a soloist and in chamber music. Berman was a soloist with many Dutch and Israeli orchestras and often records for CDs, radio and television.

Current collaborations include flautist Abbie de Quant (since 1970), Duo 4 with pianist Meir Wiesel, the Tamar Piano Trio and ensembles with vocalists such as Bat-Sheva Zeisler and Shimrit Carmi. Past partnerships include Duo Beer Sheva with the late pianist Sara Fuxon. In the seasons of 2004-2008 he also accompanied the remake of Hanoch Levin's satirical cabaret You, Me and the Next War. In 2007, he was the pianist and musical director of Schubert Plus, An Operatic Episode in Two Acts.

Berman was a senior faculty of piano at the conservatoires of Rotterdam and Arnhem and editor of the Israel Music Institute. Among his many students are Cleem Determeijer, Kees van Eersel, Margriet Ehlen, Dror Elimelech, Gerard Houtman and Matthijs Verschoor.

Berman studied composition with Bertus van Lier and Wouter van den Berg. He has composed many original works, including cadenzas to all piano concerti by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven and second piano parts to be played alongside original compositions by Muzio Clementi and Daniel Steibelt. Most noted are his completions to Schubert's unfinished piano sonatas and J.S. Bach's Art of Fugue.