Born: 1949 - Haifa, Israel

The Israeli pianist, Gershon Silbert, gave his first performance as soloist with the Israel Youth Symphony Orchestra at the age of 11. Upon hearing the young musician's interpretation of L.v. Beethoven's music, the venerated pianist, Claudio Arrau declared: "He possesses the inner fire of a great master".

In the course of the next 16 years, Gershon Silbert won numerous international awards and prizes, and appeared in solo performances, chamber music concerts, and as soloist with major orchestras in the USA and Europe. In 1969 he received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Tel Aviv Academy of Music, and in 1973 Master of Music degree from the Boston University.

In 1976, after re-evaluation of the course his life was taking, Gershon Silbert decided to stop his activities as a professional pianist. Silbert holds a Master of Music degree from Boston University. Using his technical expertise and intimate knowledge of the piano, he founded in 1980 Pianos of Distinction Inc. - a US corporation specialising in piano re-construction, which quickly gained a reputation for exceptional quality. He ran this facility for 15 years.

In the summer of 1990 Gershon Silbert experienced a powerful artistic reawakening. Working in almost total seclusion, he has devoted himself to the scholarship and techniques of Western music. The 14-year hiatus proved to be a long incubation period for a unique musical rebirth. In 1994 he recorded the Goldberg Variations BWV 988. This recording offers the opportunity to hear the work of a deeply committed musician, who has chosen his own private path, away from the public eye. He has been working for years on discovering and formulating the ground rules for music performance algorithms.

Source: Liner notes to the album; Zoominfo Website; The Artist (February 2007)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (February 2007)

Gershon Silbert: Short Biography | Recordings of Instrumental Works

Links to other Sites

Mr. Gershon Silbert (ZoomInfo)

Master Performer Expression in Computer Generated Music Production