Michael Dussek

Michael Dussek made his Wigmore Hall debut in 1980, since when he has performed in the world’s major concert venues as chamber musician, song accompanist and soloist. He has been described as “An outstanding artist” by BBC Music Magazine and as a “hugely respected pianist” by Classic FM Magazine.

From 1979-1999 he gave several hundred recitals internationally as the regular pianist of cellist Ofra Harnoy and since 2002 has collaborated with violinist Ryu Goto, including five major recital tours of Japan and three recitals in New York’s Carnegie (Zankel) Hall. Other soloists with whom he has been privileged to collaborate include violinists Levon Chilingirian, Leoš Čepický, Cho-Liang Lin, Lorraine McAslan, Anne Akiko Meyers, Kurt Nikkanen, Krysia Osostowicz, Antje Weithaas and Xue Wei; cellists Alexander Baillie, Gemma Rosefield and Markus Stocker; oboists Douglas Boyd and Sarah Francis; and singers Charles Daniels, Bernarda Fink, Stephan Loges, Christopher Maltman, Ian Partridge, Jean Rigby, Joan Rodgers, Vassily Savenko, Roman Trekel and Roderick Williams. He has performed with the Bridge, Castalian, Chilingirian, Coull, Dante and Wihan String Quartets and as a member of Primavera and Zoffany Ensemble chamber ensembles.

In 1988, with his wife, cellist Margaret Powell and violinist Peter Tanfield (succeeded in 1997 by Gonzalo Acosta) he formed the Dussek Piano Trio, which broadcast for BBC Radio 3 from major concert venues and recorded works by Arensky, Brahms, Bridge, Haydn and Hurlstone. As a member of Endymion Ensemble since 1981, Michael has performed at the BBC Proms and at South Bank concerts, collaborating with major composers including George Benjamin, Harrison Birtwistle, Peter Maxwell Davies, Jonathan Dove, Hans Werne Henze, Oliver Knussen, James MacMillan and Colin Matthews. He has performed with the ensemble in the Wigmore Hall Chamber Music and Coffee Concert series and at the opening concerts of Kings Place in October 2008.

Michael’s discography is extensive: with Ryu Goto, for Deutsche Grammophon, sonatas by Beethoven, Franck, Prokofiev, Ravel and Saint-Saens, and a recital from Tokyo’s Suntory Hall of works by Strauss, Brahms and Ravel recorded live on CD and DVD; and with Ofra Harnoy for RCA works by Beethoven, Dvorak, Prokofiev and Schubert. In addition, more than 20 CDs in Dutton Epoch’s highly praised survey of neglected British composers. His recording in this series of Rubbra’s Violin Sonatas with Krysia Osostowicz was nominated for a Gramophone Award.

His solo recordings include the first three piano concertos by York Bowen, with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Vernon Handley, all of which are included in the Penguin Guide to Compact Discs 1,000 Finest Classical Recordings. The first concerto was also selected for Fanfare Magazine’s Hall of Fame; and works by Britten, Nielsen, Rubbra, and his close friend and colleague, the late Clifford Benson. His recordings on the Somm label, titled Romantic Revolution, of works by his ancestor Jan Ladislav Dussek and Chopin have been highly praised. Volume 2 was selected as Recording of the Week on Classic FM.

Michael’s teachers have included Hugo Langrish, Alexander Kelly, Geoffrey Parsons, Greville Rothon, Rex Stephens and John Streets. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music where he was for many years Head of Piano Accompaniment and is now Geoffrey Parsons Professor of Ensemble Piano. His students are at the forefront of the musical profession internationally as song collaborators, chamber musicians, soloists, conductors, répétiteurs, teachers and festival directors. He was appointed a Professor of the University of London in 2019 and has given Masterclasses in Aldeburgh, Beijing, Berlin, Hannover, St Petersburg, Weimar, Zhuhai and at London’s Royal College of Music and the Yehudi Menuhin School.

Updated 13 August 2024