Born: 1970 - Heerlen, Holland

The Dutch harpsichordist and organist, Léon Berben, studied harpsichord and organ in Den Haag (Koninklijk Conservatorium) and Amsterdam (Sweelinck Conservatorium) with Rienk Jiskoot, Bob van Asperen, Ton Koopman and Gustav Leonhardt, and finished his studies with solo-diploma for both instruments.

Since March 2000 Léon Berben is the harpsichordist of Musica Antiqua Köln (Reinhard Goebel). As such he has given concerts all over the world, and has travelled Europe, Asia, North- and South America. With Musica Antiqua Köln he has recorded several CD's for Deutsche Grammophon/Archiv Produktion. Musica Antiqua Köln will dissolve end of November 2006, and Léon Berben will focus his work next to chamber music more on the solo-repertoire.

Léon Berben gives solo-recitals on harpsichord and organ. His solo-CDs on historic organs and harpsichords - above all with the labels Ramée and Aeolus - have been highly acclaimed in the press, and received numerous awards, e.g. »Vierteljahrespreis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik« and »Choc« of Le Monde de la Musique. His repertoire stretches from around 1550 to 1750, with his main interest focussing on German music, the Virginalists and Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck. He calls two harpsichords built by Willem Kroesbergen (after Couchet and after Stephanini) and one harpsichord built by Keith Hill (after Zell) his own.

Besides playing the harpsichord and organ, Léon Berben engages in debates on historical performance practice by writing articles and also signs as a co-author for MGG (Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart). He has now been living since several years in Cologne, Germany.

Source: Léon Berben Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (December 2006)

Léon Berben: Short Biography | Recordings of Instrumental Works

Links to other Sites

Léon Berben (Official Website) [English/Dutch/German]