Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Vocal

 

Hilde Somer was a renowned classical pianist and harpsichordist who was born on August 11, 1922, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She was the daughter of a Dutch father and a German mother, and her family was deeply involved in the arts. Her father was a painter, and her mother was a singer and pianist. From a young age, Somer showed a natural talent for music, and her parents encouraged her to pursue her passion. Somer began her formal music education at the Amsterdam Conservatory, where she studied piano with Jan Odé and harpsichord with Gustav Leonhardt. She graduated with honors in 1942, at the age of 20. During World War II, Somer continued to perform and teach music, despite the dangers and difficulties of the time. She gave concerts in Amsterdam and other cities in the Netherlands, and she also taught piano and harpsichord to students in her home. After the war, Somer continued her studies in Paris with the renowned pianist Alfred Cortot. She also studied harpsichord with Wanda Landowska, who was one of the pioneers of the harpsichord revival in the 20th century. Somer's studies with Landowska had a profound influence on her approach to the harpsichord, and she became known for her expressive and dynamic playing style. In the 1950s, Somer began to establish herself as a soloist and chamber musician. She performed extensively throughout Europe, the United States, and Canada, and she also made several recordings for major record labels such as Philips and Decca. Some of her most notable performances during this time included her debut at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam in 1952, her performance of Bach's Goldberg Variations at the Edinburgh Festival in 1957, and her performance of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 with the London Symphony Orchestra in 1959. Somer was also a dedicated teacher, and she taught at several institutions throughout her career. She was a professor of piano and harpsichord at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague from 1955 to 1962, and she also taught at the Amsterdam Conservatory, the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam, and the Hochschule für Musik in Munich. Many of her students went on to have successful careers as musicians, and she was known for her supportive and nurturing teaching style. In addition to her performances and teaching, Somer was also a passionate advocate for contemporary music. She premiered several works by Dutch composers, including Henk Badings and Ton de Leeuw, and she also performed works by international composers such as Olivier Messiaen and Karlheinz Stockhausen. She believed that it was important for musicians to embrace new music and to push the boundaries of traditional classical music. Somer's career was marked by many accolades and awards. In 1953, she won the Prix d'Excellence from the Amsterdam Conservatory, and in 1957, she was awarded the Harriet Cohen International Music Award. She was also a recipient of the Order of Orange-Nassau, which is one of the highest honors in the Netherlands. In 1982, she was awarded the Dutch Music Prize, which is the highest honor for a musician in the Netherlands. Despite her many achievements, Somer remained humble and dedicated to her craft throughout her life. She continued to perform and teach until her death on May 18, 1990, at the age of 67. Her legacy lives on through her recordings, her students, and the many musicians who were inspired by her passion and dedication to classical music.

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