Birth

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1984 in Tehran, Iran

 

Mahan Esfahani is a renowned Iranian-American harpsichordist who has made a significant impact on the classical music scene. Born on October 1, 1984, in Tehran, Iran, Esfahani grew up in a family that valued education and the arts. His father was a professor of physics, and his mother was a painter. Esfahani showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of five. Esfahani's family moved to the United States when he was 11 years old, and he continued his musical studies there. He attended Stanford University, where he earned a degree in history, and then went on to study music at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He also studied with renowned harpsichordist Zuzana Růžičková in Prague. Esfahani's talent as a harpsichordist quickly became apparent, and he began to receive recognition for his performances. In 2006, he won first prize in the Prague Spring International Harpsichord Competition, and in 2009, he was awarded the Goldberg Prize, which is given to outstanding young performers of early music. Esfahani has performed at some of the world's most prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall in New York, the Royal Albert Hall in London, and the Berlin Philharmonic. He has also collaborated with many leading orchestras, including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. One of Esfahani's most notable performances was his 2015 debut at the BBC Proms, where he performed Bach's Goldberg Variations to critical acclaim. The Guardian called his performance "a revelation," and The Telegraph described it as "a triumph." Esfahani is also known for his advocacy of contemporary music for the harpsichord. He has commissioned and premiered works by composers such as Steve Reich, George Benjamin, and Nico Muhly. In 2014, he released an album of works by the Iranian composer Anahita Abbasi, which was praised for its "dazzling virtuosity" and "fierce intelligence." In addition to his performing career, Esfahani is also a respected scholar of early music. He has written articles and given lectures on the history and performance practice of the harpsichord, and he has served as a visiting professor at institutions such as the Juilliard School and the Royal College of Music. Esfahani's contributions to the world of classical music have been widely recognized. In 2014, he was named a BBC New Generation Artist, and in 2015, he was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society's Instrumentalist Award. He has also been nominated for a Grammy Award for his recording of CPE Bach's Württemberg Sonatas. Despite his success, Esfahani remains committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible on the harpsichord. He has said that he sees the instrument as "a living, breathing thing," and that he is constantly exploring new ways to make it relevant to contemporary audiences. With his talent, passion, and dedication, Mahan Esfahani is sure to continue making a significant impact on the world of classical music for years to come.

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