Geir Botnen (born 27 February 1959 in

Kvam Kvam is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The municipality is located along the Hardangerfjorden in the traditional district of Hardanger. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Norheimsund. Other larger settl ...

) is a Norwegian

pianist A pianist ( , ) is a musician who plays the piano. A pianist's repertoire may include music from a diverse variety of styles, such as traditional classical music, jazz piano, jazz, blues piano, blues, and popular music, including rock music, ...

. He focuses mainly on the works of

Geirr Tveitt Geirr Tveitt (born Nils Tveit; 19 October 1908 – 1 February 1981) was a Norwegian composer and pianist. Tveitt was a central figure of the national movement in Norwegian cultural life during the 1930s. Life Early years Tveitt was born in Be ...

, but his repertoire also includes works by other composers.

Biography

During his 5 years studies at the Bergen Music Conservatory with professor

Jiri Hlinka Jiri Hlinka (; born 1944) is a Norwegian professor and piano teacher of Czech origin. His most well-known student is Leif Ove Andsnes. Career Hlinka was born in Prague, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, and was a student of František Rauch an ...

, he demonstrated remarkable talent, and was invited to perform with the

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra ( Norwegian: Bergen filharmoniske orkester) is a Norwegian orchestra based in Bergen. Its principal concert venue is the Grieg Hall. History Established in 1765 under the name ''Det Musicalske Selskab'' (The M ...

. In 1982 he was the first Norwegian pianist to take part in the Tchaikovsky Competition in

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

. Botnen has been a soloist with a number of symphony orchestras both in Norway and in the US, playing under acclaimed

maestro Maestro (; from the Italian '' maestro'' , meaning " master" or "teacher," plural: maestros or maestri) is an honorific title of respect, sometimes abbreviated Mo. The term is most commonly used in the context of Western classical music and oper ...

s like Alan Gilbert, Arvid Jansons,

Dmitri Kitayenko Dmitri Georgievich Kitayenko (also spelled Dmitrij Kitajenko; ; born 18 August 1940) is a Soviet and Russian conductor. He was bestowed the title People's Artist of the USSR (1984). He was born in Leningrad, Soviet Union. He studied at Glinka C ...

and Edward Serov. As a solo recitalist and chamber musician he has concertized in the UK, US, Canada, China, Germany, Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. In 1993 Botnen was chosen to perform at the official opening of the Edvard Grieg Bicentennial Anniversary in Norway and on a tour of Asian capitals. Botnen is a regular guest at the Bergen International Festival and has performed at festivals in Norway and abroad, like Risør Chamber Music Fest, St. Magnus Festival Orkney Islands and others. Botnen has been pivotal in the founding of and as artistic director of the annual Norwegian Hardingtonar Festival, focusing on the music of composer

. Botnen, a direct descendant of famous fiddle makers Isak and Trond Botnen, early acquired an interest in Geirr Tveitt's music. His recordings of Tveitt's "Fifty Folk Tunes from Hardanger" as well as other piano-works, has been exceptionally well received by critics. His CD recordings include works by Tveitt, Grieg and chamber music.

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Botnen, Geir Norwegian classical pianists 1959 births Living people Musicians from Kvam 21st-century Norwegian classical pianists