Burkard Schliessmann is regarded as one of the most distinguished pianists of his generation. Having studied with Shura Cherkassky, Poldi Mildner, Bruno Leonardo Gelber and Herbert Seidel, he continues the tradition of the great Romantic piano school. His repertoire focuses in particular on the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt and Robert Schumann.
His interpretations are distinguished by technical mastery, intellectual depth and exceptional lyrical expressiveness. Johann Sebastian Bach holds a special place in his artistic work. Schliessmann’s performances combine emotional immediacy with structural clarity.
His recordings have received numerous international accolades, including several Global Music Awards and two Critic’s Choice Awards from American Record Guide. He was also nominated for the OPUS KLASSIK in 2022 and 2023. His performances and interpretations have been broadcast by numerous renowned radio and television networks, including ZDF, BR, HR, ARTE, 3sat and UNITEL Classica.
In 2019/20, he was awarded the Goethe Plaque of the City of Frankfurt am Main. He is a professor at the London Overseas Musicians’ League (LOML), a special project of the Royal Academy of Music in London, and has been an Official Artist of Steinway & Sons since 1990.
Introduction to the Goldberg Variations
Ahead of Goldberg in Motion, Burkard Schliessmann will give an introduction to Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations, which he has recorded himself. His personal engagement with this seminal work of the piano repertoire offers a special insight into its musical structure and interpretation. At the same time, the introduction invites the audience to explore the differences between the original version for keyboard and the string arrangement performed in the ballet.
