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The Israeli pianist, Imri Talgam, graduated from the Tel-Aviv University in the class of Emanuel Krasovsky (2008). He then studied with Matti Raekallio at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hannover. His studies for Master Music degree continued with Raekallio and Robert McDonald at the Juilliard School of Music (2010-2012). During 2012-2013, he performed as pianist of the Ensemble Modern Academy in Frankfurt. Most recently (2016), he completed his doctoral degree at CUNY’s Graduate Center with Ursula Oppens, with research on the perception and performance of rhythmic complexity, advised by Joseph Straus. Additionally, his studies included electronic and computer music at Brooklyn College Computer music center, with Red Wierenga and Douglas Geers. He is the winner of the 11th Concours International de Piano d’Orléans, in which he received 1st prize, as well as the Denisov prize and the Claude Helffer prize.
Imri Talgam has played as soloist throughout the world, winning recognition for his “extreme virtuosity” (Classica magazine), “rich playing” (El Pais), “uniquely powerful vision” (Codalario), as well as “subtle introspection” (Parma Gazette). His recent appearances include venues such as Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord, KKL Lucerne, the Shanghai Conservatory, and Alice Tully hall, the DiMenna Center, and the Metropolitan Museum in New York. As a soloist, he has toured widely in Europe, North America, Argentina, Russia, China, and Israel, including festival appearances in Shanghai New Music Week, Lucerne Festival, Darmstadt summer courses, Israel Festival, Mänttä Piano Festival (Finland), Voix Nouvelles (Royaumont, France), and the Tel Aviv Festival for New Music (Tzlil Meudcan). He plays regularly with many groups, including Ensemble Modern, the Israeli Contemporary players, Novus, Talea, and the Metropolis Ensemble.
Imri Talgam’s repertoire ranges from Girolamo Frescobaldi to dozens of world premieres, often juxtaposing old and new works in ways that bring forth new perspectives. His core programs include pairings of Stockhausen and Robert Schumann, L.v. Beethoven and Pierre Boulez, as well as repertoire staples like J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations (BWV 988), Messiaen’s Vingt Regards, and the complete Ligeti Etudes. Alongside these, he offers rare performances of transcriptions of player-piano studies by Conlon Nancarrow, widely considered unplayable by a single live pianist.
Imri Talgam's playing has been featured in radio broadcasts in Spain, Germany, France, Israel, Croatia, and the USA. His debut CD of works by Nancarrow, Mauricio Kagel, Stockhausen and Furrer (2015, Solstice) was lauded for its “virtuosity and refined touch” (Diapason Magazine), as well as “fiery and controlled playing” (Classica Magazine). Most recently, Talgam was awarded the Yvar Mikhashoff Foundation prize (2017) together with Yair Klartag for their collaboration.
In parallel to his performance career, Imri Talgam has taught at various institutions, including School for Visual Arts (2016-2017), 92nd street Y (since 2018), and several CUNY colleges (2014-2017). Additionally, he has given master-classes and lectures at other institutions, including Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique (Paris), Royaumont’s Voix Nouvelles, Tel-Aviv University, University of Georgia Athens, and the Tomsk conservatory (Russia). He currently lives in New York City, New York. |
