Sony Classical Signs American Pianist Simone Dinnerstein

NEW YORK, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Classical is pleased to announce the signing of an exclusive agreement with American pianist Simone Dinnerstein. Known for her intelligent but emotive performances, Dinnerstein has been called "…a phenomenon in the world of classical music" by The Washington Post. The New York-based pianist gained an international following because of the remarkable success of her recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations, which she raised the funds to record. Released in 2007, it ranked No. 1 on Billboard's Classical Chart in its first week of sales and was included on many "Best of 2007" lists such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The New Yorker. Her follow-up album, The Berlin Concert, also gained the No. 1 spot on the chart. Dinnerstein's first album for Sony Classical will be announced in Spring 2010.

"I am honored to be joining Sony Classical to continue what has been a lifelong dream – recording and performing repertoire to which I feel closely connected," said Dinnerstein. "Sony Classical is an established voice in the recording industry, but one that is looking toward innovation and leading the field into the 21st century. I am extremely proud to be a part of their continued legacy and bright future."

Bogdan Roscic, President of Sony Classical, said: "Like so many in our business, I marveled at Simone's recording of the Goldberg Variations and have wanted to produce records with her ever since. When I met her, the thoughtfulness and care with which she approaches her recording projects impressed me enormously. The modern piano has been called a machine-age beast, and Simone is taming it in a unique way, to a level of intimacy and expressivity all her own. I am thrilled that she has decided to become a Sony Classical artist."

Dinnerstein's performance schedule has taken her around the world since her triumphant New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall in 2005, performing Bach's Goldberg Variations. Some of her recent and upcoming performances include her recital debuts at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Vienna Konzerthaus, and the Lincoln Center Mostly Mozart Festival; as well as debut performances with the Dresden Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra of St. Luke's, Kristjan Jarvi's Absolute Ensemble, the Tokyo Symphony, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, and the Minnesota Orchestra. In New York, she has performed on the People's Symphony series at Town Hall, on Lincoln Center's Great Performers series, and in three sold-out recitals at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. She is also a frequent performer at (Le) Poisson Rouge in the West Village. In July 2009, she made her debut with the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, playing Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 2.

Since 1996, Dinnerstein has played concerts throughout the United States for the Piatigorsky Foundation, an organization dedicated to bringing Classical music to non-traditional venues. Amongst the places she has played are nursing homes, schools and community centers. Most notably, she gave the first classical music performance in the Louisiana state prison system when she played at the Avoyelles Correctional Center. She also performed at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women, in a concert organized by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to coinciding with her BSO debut.

In addition, Dinnerstein has founded P.S. 321 Neighborhood Concerts, an evening concert series at the Brooklyn public elementary school that her son attends and where her husband teaches fifth grade. The concerts, which feature musicians Dinnerstein has admired and collaborated with during her career, is open to the public and raises funds for the school's Parent Teacher Association. The musicians performing donate their time and talent to the program.

Dinnerstein is a graduate of The Juilliard School where she was a student of Peter Serkin. She was a winner of the Astral Artist National Auditions, and has twice received the Classical Recording Foundation Award. She also studied with Solomon Mikowsky at the Manhattan School of Music and in London with Maria Curcio, the distinguished pupil of Artur Schnabel. Simone Dinnerstein (pronounced See-MOHN-uh Dinner-STEEN) lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and son.

View performance videos & interviews with Simone Dinnerstein: www.simonedinnerstein.com/look.php

Simone Dinnerstein's complete concert calendar: www.simonedinnerstein.com/tour.php

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SOURCE Sony Classical