Michel Béroff Joins ClaviCologne 2025 in Pescara, Championing a Legacy of French Pianism

Legendary French pianist, conductor, and educator Michel Béroff will bring his extraordinary career and visionary teaching to ClaviCologne 2025 in Pescara. His presence marks a defining highlight of the festival’s 12th edition, offering students and audiences alike a rare opportunity to engage with one of the great interpreters of 20th-century piano music.

This summer, the Adriatic gem of Pescara will once again host ClaviCologne, where a vibrant mix of masterclasses, recitals, and a high-level competition converge in celebration of piano artistry. Among this year’s distinguished faculty is Michel Béroff—an artist whose name has become synonymous with intellectual depth, expressive power, and French musical tradition.

Béroff’s international breakthrough came early: after graduating from the Paris Conservatoire in 1966, he won the first Olivier Messiaen International Piano Competition the following year, launching a lifelong association with Messiaen’s music. Since then, he has performed with nearly every major orchestra under the baton of the world’s leading conductors—including Abbado, Barenboim, Bernstein, Boulez, Dutoit, Ozawa, and Solti.

As a recording artist, Béroff has left a rich legacy with over 50 acclaimed albums for EMI and Deutsche Grammophon, including complete concertos of Liszt, Prokofiev, and Stravinsky. His interpretations of Debussy and Ravel remain touchstones for generations of pianists, and his recordings have earned him five “Grand Prix du Disque” awards.

Alongside his illustrious performance career, Béroff is equally celebrated as an educator. A Professor Emeritus at the Paris Conservatoire, where he taught for 25 years, he continues to give masterclasses across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. His students have won top prizes at the world’s leading competitions, including the Chopin Competition in Warsaw.

Beyond the concert stage and studio, he has contributed to the scholarship of piano literature—publishing a modern edition of Debussy’s works for Wiener Urtext and creating a televised masterclass series on French music for NHK in Japan.

Reflecting his wide-ranging influence, Béroff has served on juries for the Tchaikovsky, Van Cliburn, Chopin, and Leeds competitions, among others.

Speaking on his participation at ClaviCologne 2025, Béroff noted:

“Teaching is not only a transmission of knowledge, but a shared experience of discovery. I look forward to meeting the next generation of pianists in the inspiring environment of Pescara.”
With Michel Béroff joining its faculty, ClaviCologne 2025 reaffirms its place as a beacon of pianistic excellence and artistic mentorship. His presence will inspire young pianists and elevate the festival’s mission of blending tradition with forward-looking artistry.