Kristian Bezuidenhout

Kristian Bezuidenhout is an Australian pianist, known by his performances on early keyboard instruments. He was born in South Africa in 1979 and grew up in King William's Town in Eastern South Africa. In 1988 his family decided to leave South Africa and move to Australia. There Bezuidenhout began his studies and completed them later at the Eastman School of Music. He studied fortepiano with Malcolm Bilson and harpsichord with Arthur Haas. At the age 21 he gained international recognition after winning the first prize in the Bruges Fortepiano Competition. As a guest pianist Bezuidenhout collaborated with the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, Concerto Köln, the Collegium Vocale Gent and Les Arts Florissants. He performed with conductors John Eliot Gardiner, Philippe Herreweghe, Trevor Pinnock, Frans Brüggen, and Giovanni Antonini. As a lied pianist, Bezuidenhout recorded songs by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schumann. Kristian Bezuidenhout currently lives in London.