Bjørn Boysen was a Norwegian classical pianist and music educator who was born on August 22, 1923, in Oslo, Norway. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Boysen began playing the piano at a young age and showed great talent and passion for music. He studied at the Oslo Conservatory of Music and later at the Juilliard School in New York City. Boysen's career as a pianist began in the 1940s when he started performing in concerts and recitals in Norway and other European countries. He quickly gained recognition for his exceptional talent and became known for his expressive and nuanced playing style. In 1950, Boysen won the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, Belgium, which launched his international career. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Boysen performed extensively in Europe, the United States, and Asia. He played with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. He also collaborated with renowned conductors such as Leonard Bernstein, Herbert von Karajan, and Sir Georg Solti. Boysen's repertoire was vast and included works by many of the great composers, including Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart, and Schumann. He was particularly known for his interpretations of the works of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, and he recorded several albums of Grieg's music. In addition to his performing career, Boysen was also a dedicated music educator. He taught at the Oslo Conservatory of Music and later at the Norwegian Academy of Music, where he was a professor of piano for many years. He was known for his rigorous teaching style and for his ability to inspire and motivate his students. Boysen received many awards and honors throughout his career. In addition to his win at the Queen Elisabeth Competition, he was awarded the Norwegian Music Critics' Prize in 1953 and the Order of St. Olav in 1973. He was also made a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog by the Danish government in 1983. Boysen continued to perform and teach well into his later years. He gave his last concert in 2003, at the age of 80, and passed away on January 1, 2006, at the age of 82. He left behind a legacy as one of Norway's greatest classical pianists and music educators. His recordings and performances continue to inspire and delight audiences around the world.

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