Born in the Netherlands and based in Italy, Erik Bertsch is a pianist who focuses his attention on contemporary repertoire with curiosity and spirit of research. His commitment to the music of our time gave him the opportunity to collaborate intensively with established composers like George Benjamin, Marco Stroppa, Ivan Fedele, Fabio Vacchi, Alessandro Solbiati, Fabio Nieder and his concert programs illuminate surprising and unexpected elective affinities between compositions even distant from each other, looking for new paths and listening experiences.
In 2020 Kairos released his debut album dedicated to Marco Stroppa's First Book of Miniature Estrose, received with enthusiasm and unanimous approval by international critics, obtaining 5 stars and the recognition of Cd of the Month for Classic Voice and 5 stars for Diapason.
Prize-winner at several national and international piano competitions, Erik has performed in prestigious concert halls and festivals, amongst which Auditorium Parco della Musica - Sala Sinopoli in Rome, Teatro Bibiena in Mantua, Teatro Manzoni in Pistoia, Teatro Litta and Palazzina Liberty in Milan, Salone dei Concerti di Palazzo Chigi Saracini in Siena, Casa della Musica in Parma, Accademia Filarmonica Romana, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, Rondò – Divertimento Ensemble in Milan, Traiettorie in Parma, Amici della Musica in Modena, Festival Forlì Open Music, Festival Nuovi Spazi Musicali in Ascoli Piceno, La Milanesiana, Festival Trame Sonore in Mantua... He also performed live for Italian national radio RAI Radio3, playing works of Johannes Brahms, György Kurtág and Marco Stroppa.
Erik graduated, cum laude, at the Cherubini Conservatory in Florence under the guidance of Maria Teresa Carunchio, then he followed advanced courses with Enrico Pace (Accademia di Musica, Pinerolo) Alexander Lonquich (Accademia Chigiana, Siena) and in chamber music with Carlo Fabiano (Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome). He also improved the contemporary repertoire with Maria Grazia Bellocchio (Divertimento Ensemble, Milan), Pierre-Laurent Aimard and Tamara Stefanovich (Piano Academy, Munich).
