Norman Krieger

A native of Los Angeles, Norman Krieger is one of the most acclaimed pianists of his generation, highly regarded as an artist of depth, sensitivity and virtuosic flair.

Norman Krieger regularly appears with the major orchestras of North America, among them the New York, Los Angeles, Buffalo, Dayton and Hamilton Philharmonics, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Boston Pops Orchestra and the Baltimore, California, Chicago, Cincinnati, Florida, Hartford, Honolulu, Kansas City, Milwaukee, National, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Saint Louis, San Antonio, San Diego and Syracuse Symphony Orchestras. He has also been heard as guest soloist with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Prague’s Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Turkey’s Presidential Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand’s Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and Taiwan's National Symphony Orchestra.

In recital, Mr. Krieger has been heard throughout the United States, Europe, Mexico and Asia, while chamber music collaborations have included appearances with soprano Sheri Greenawald, violinist Livia Sohn, cellist Jian Wang and the Tokyo and Manhattan String Quartets.

In the summer of 1994, Mr. Krieger made his debut at New York City’s prestigious Mostly Mozart Festival, earning an immediate invitation to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts’ 1995-96 “Great Performers Series.”

Mr. Krieger’s current season is highlighted by his debuts with Germany’s Philharmonisches Orchster Augsburg, Holland’s Orkest van het Oostenaand, and a return to Mexico’s Orquesta Sinfonica de Xalapa. In the United States, he appears as guest soloist with the symphony orchestras of California, Canton, Grand Rapids, Jacksonville, North Carolina, Richmond, San Juan, Santa Fe and Southeast Texas as well as the Greeley and Tennessee Philharmonics.

In 1987, Mr. Krieger made headlines by being named the Gold Medal Winner of the first Palm Beach Invitational Piano Competition. Earlier, in 1984, he was selected to join the distinguished roster of Affiliate Artists, where he participated in the Xerox Pianists Program from 1984 to 1986. He is also the recipient of the Paderewski Foundation Award, the Bruce Hungerford Memorial Prize, the Victor Herbert Memorial Prize, the Buffalo Philharmonic Young Artists Competition Prize and the Saint Louis Symphony Prize.

Mr. Krieger’s training began in Los Angeles under the tutelage of Esther Lipton. At the age of 15, he became a full scholarship student of Adele Marcus at the famed Juilliard School, from which he received both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Subsequently, he studied with Alfred Brendel and Maria Curcio in London, and was awarded an Artists Diploma from the New England Conservatory, where he worked with Russell Sherman.

A champion of contemporary music, Mr. Krieger features the music of John Adams, Leonard Bernstein, John Corigliano, Daniel Brewbaker, Judith St. Croix, Lukas Foss and Lowell Liebermann among his active repertoire. His recordings include four albums available on the Artisie 4 label: “Norman Krieger Piano Recital,” with music by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin; “American Piano Concertos,” featuring works by MacDowell and David Wiley with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mr. Wiley; “Raising the Roof,” an album of chamber music by Haydn, Bloch, Bruch and Martinu; “The Prince Albert Chamber Music Festival,” including works by Barber, Beethoven, Bizet, Chopin, Schubert and Tchaikovsky. Other releases include the two Brahms concerti with the Orchestre Symphonique Francais on the Beaufour label, an all-Gershwin album on Stradivari Classics and “Summerdays,” music of Barber, Berg, Bernstein, Gershwin, Glazunov, Lehar and Mozart, from the Musical Masterworks Festival at Old Lyme, featuring Mr. Krieger and additional artists on Well-Tempered.

Norman Krieger is the founding Artistic Director of The Prince Albert Music Festival in Hawaii. In the spring of 1997, he was appointed Associate Professor of the distinguished faculty of the University of Southern California.

A Brief Conversation with Norman Krieger

During a break from his touring schedule, acclaimed pianist Norman Krieger answered the Aloha Piano Festival’s questions about life as a musician. A native of Los Angeles, Mr. Krieger is one of the most celebrated pianists of his generation, highly regarded as an artist of depth, sensitivity and virtuosic flair.

What inspired you to become a musician?
When I was 5 years old my grandmother inspired me to study the piano. In short, I had to study or I could not play outside with my friends.

What keeps you inspired on discouraging days?
The challenge of giving life to the music from every possible aspect. Being totally prepared to perform.

What is the most memorable performance you have ever seen and why?
There are too many memorable performances to choose from, but one I shall never forget is my teacher Alfred Brendel performing Beethoven’s Op. 111 at Carnegie Hall in 1977. It transcended anything I had ever heard up to that point in my life. (Editor’s note: Beethoven’s Op. 111 is his Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, the last of Beethoven’s piano sonatas.)

If you could perform with any musician, living or dead, who would it be?
Beethoven

If you could master another instrument, what would it be?
The Cello. I would give anything to make a crescendo on one note!

If you could not be a musician, what other profession would you choose?
I imagine I would be a junior high school or high school teacher.

What do you listen to for inspiration?
At this stage of my life I find total silence a great source of inspiration. After silence, the sounds of nature, birds, the wind and the evening sky make me long for music.