Sigurd Slåttebrekk

Born in Stavanger in 1968, Sigurd Slåttebrekk was taught by his mother Karin Slåttebrekk until the age of sixteen, then studied at the Norwegian Academy of Music with Einar Steen-Nøkleberg and with Jerome Lowenthal at the Juilliard School of Music in New York and also with Lazar Berman. In 1991 he was named Debut Artist of the Year by Concerts Norway (Rikskonsertene), and thus followed the beginning of what looked to be a high-profile, high-speed performing career.

However, in 1997 Sigurd decided that he needed a break from touring, and stepped back from his career. That same year, Simax released his Ravel recital, described as ‘an extraordinary disc’ (Schwann Opus) and ‘among the great interpretations’ (American Record Guide), and which won the coveted Spellemannpris (the Norwegian equivalent of a Grammy). Then Slåttebrekk was gone.

During his years away from the concert platform, Sigurd originated, with Alf Knutsen, ‘Elias’, an animation series for children’s television that has been highly successful on Norwegian TV, distributed to more than 20 countries and nominated for the International Emmy Award 2006. Now he sees things a little differently. He is interested in combining visual and musical idioms in new ways, and also in undertaking dynamic research projects, research that feeds and renews his playing – an example of which “Chasing the Butterfly” is just a beginning. Teaching has always played a natural role in his musical life and he taught at the Norwegian Academy of Music for almost a decade.

In 2002 Sigurd returned to the concert platform with a solo recital of music by Schumann in the Oslo Chamber Music Festival, and subsequently two critically acclaimed CD releases, including Piano music by Robert Schumann and the Grieg piano concerto with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. As a pianist and musician he is always surprising, often unconventional and never predictable.

Sept 2010