Michael Leuschner

Michael Leuschner was born in Wernigrode in the Harz Mountains in 1948. He received his first piano instruction from Meta Conrad and Martin Galling in Goettingen, Germany. His studies continued with musicology and German literature at the University of Goettingen where he later decided to devote his time solely to the study of piano. He later turned to the Freiburg School of Music, where he studied under the direction of Edith Picht-Axenfeld, Helmut Barth and Carl Seemann. Periods of study under Bernard Roberts in London and Wilhelm Kempff in Italy, as well as a Schubert course from Alfred Brendel, rounded off his formal training.

Leuschner has proven his talent at many competitions, including the Bundesauswahl Junger Kuenstler (the German national selection of young artists), which he won several times. He has lead class instruction in piano at the Freiburg School of Music since 1978 and, in 1984 he assumed a professorship at the Hanover School of Music.

In 1970, Leuschner began his recital career as a member of the Freiburger Ensemble for New Music, later performing as a soloist at home and abroad. In addition to numerous chamber music pieces and concertos, his extensive repertoire includes roughly 150 solo works ranging from those of J.S. Bach to contemporary composers. Leuschner performed the complete cycle of Beethoven's 32 sonatas in Germany and Zurich, Switzerland, with great success and also recorded these sonatas for German southwest radio. Numerous albums and live radio recordings for almost every German and several foreign broadcasters are a testimony of this artist's versatility.

"A new name to the UK market, the American label, Brioso. They have an interesting catalogue, this selection from Clementi's extensive output of piano music being typical of their high quality releases. Clementi is coming back into fashion, and for the uninitiated just mix a little Mozart and Schubert together and you have the general idea of his music. It is in the very safe hands of Michael Leuschner with everything from delicacy to drama so beautifully captured. I hope there is more to come. "
Yorkshire Post (UK)
PERFORMANCE **** 4 Stars
RECORDING **** 4 Stars