Martin Berkofsky

American classical pianist (1943 2013)

Martin Berkofsky (9 April 1943 – 30 December 2013) was an American classical pianist, known primarily for his interpretations of music by Franz Liszt and Alan Hovhaness.

Born in Washington, D. C., of Belarusian ancestry, Berkofsky began giving public performances from a young age. Later studies were with the Polish pianist Mieczysław Munz, with Konrad Wolff, and Walter Hautzig, as well as with Hans Kann in Vienna. He was active on VHF in the suburban Maryland area during his high school years, and in his later years, he was an amateur radio operator and assembled a VHF/UHF station on his property in Virginia. Some of Berkofsky's earliest professional engagements were as a member of New York's Long Island Chamber Ensemble, of which he was pianist for three years. In 1971 the ensemble met the composer Alan Hovhaness, and they subsequently gave an all Hovhaness concert at Carnegie Recital Hall, which included the premiere of Hovhaness's Saturn, op. 243, which Hovhaness had written for the ensemble. During his early years, Berkofsky traveled to Europe and twice recorded the long lost Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra of Max Bruch. The first time was with the pianist Nathan Twining and London Symphony Orchestra in 1974. The second recording was with pianist David Hagan and the Berlin Symphony Orchestra in 1978. In addition to his research on this Bruch concerto, Berkofsky also did similar restoration of a duo piano concerto composed jointly by Felix Mendelssohn and Ignaz Moscheles. He also discovered in Paris, and subsequently edited and published, a previously unknown manuscript by Franz Liszt.

After recovering from a motorcycle accident in Iceland in 1982, Berkofsky donated proceeds from some of his performances to various charitable causes. He later founded the Cristofori Foundation to facilitate this purpose. To celebrate his 60th birthday and recovery from cancer, Berkofsky embarked on a marathon concert tour, "Celebrate Life Run," running 880 miles across America's heartland and raising over US$80,000 for cancer research. He died from cancer on 30 December 2013.

Berkofsky has recorded for the EMI, Arts, Cristofori, Black Box, Koch International, Crystal, Vox Allegretto, Nimbus, Vox Turnabout, FONO, Angel, Poseidon Society, and Musical Heritage Society labels. 1972 – Alan Hovhaness: Saturn, Op. 243. Long Island Chamber Ensemble of New York (Kate Hurney, soprano; Lawrence Sobol, clarinet; Martin Berkofsky, piano). LP. New York: Poseidon. 1972 – Alan Hovhaness: Khaldis, Op. 91. Ensemble conducted by Lawrence Sobol. LP. New York: Poseidon. 1974 – Max Bruch: Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in A flat minor, Op. 88a; 6 Klavierstücke, Op. 12; 2 Klavierstücke, Op. 14. Martin Berkofsky, piano; Nathan Twining, piano (in the concerto); London Symphony Orchestra, dir. Antal Dorati. LP. Hollywood, California: Angel. 1976 – Johann Sebastian Bach: The Brandenburg Concerti. Transcribed for piano duet by Max Reger. Martin Berkofsky, piano; David Hagan, piano. 2 LPs. Oakhurst, New Jersey: Musical Heritage Society. 1978 – Max Bruch: Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, Op. 88a in A flat minor; Fantasy for Two Pianos in D minor, Op. 11; Schwedische Tänze (Swedish Dances) for piano four hands, Op. 63 (originally for violin and piano; arranged by the composer). Martin Berkofsky and David Hagan, pianos; Berlin Symphony Orchestra, dir. Lutz Herbig. LP. Turnabout. 1981 – Johann Sebastian Bach: The Four Orchestral Suites, S. 1066–1069. Transcribed for piano duet by Max Reger. Martin Berkofsky, piano; David Hagan, piano (four hands). 2 LPs. Tinton Falls, New Jersey: Musical Heritage Society. 1994 – Max Bruch: Works for Violin and Two Pianos (Violin Concerto no. 1 in G minor, Op. 26; Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in A flat minor, Op. 88a; Fantasy for Two Pianos in D minor, Op. 11; Schwedische Tänze (Swedish Dances), for piano four hands, Op. 63. Ruggiero Ricci, violin; Bochum Symphony, dir. Matthias Kuntzsch; Martin Berkofsky, David Hagan, pianos; Berlin Symphony Orchestra, dir. Lutz Herbig. CD. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Vox Allegretto. 1997 – Franz Liszt. Piano music played by Martin Berkofsky (Rhapsodie hongroise no. 12; La Vallée d'Obermann; Legende: St. François de Paule marchant sur les flots; Aprés une lecture du Dante (Fantasia quasi Sonata). CD. Casanova, Virginia: Cristofori Foundation. 1997 – Alan Hovhaness: Armenian Rhapsodies 1, 2, and 3; My Soul Is a Bird, from Symphony no. 38, Op. 314; Lullaby, from Symphony no. 38, Op. 314; Concerto no. 10 for piano, trumpet, and strings, Op. 413. Hinako Fujihara, coloratura soprano; Scott Goff, flute; Martin Berkofsky, piano; Chris Butler, trumpet; Seattle Symphony Orchestra, dir. Gerard Schwarz. [Austria]: Koch Schwann. 1999 – Nicolae Bretan: Sacred Songs. Phyllis Bryn Julson, soprano; Ludovic Konya, baritone; Ronald Stalford; Donald S. Sutherland, organ; Ferdinand Weiss; Martin Berkofsky, piano. CD. Wyastone Leys, Monmouth: Nimbus. 2005 – Alan Hovhaness: Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra; Mihr; Ko ola u; Vijag; Lousadzak: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra. Martin Berkofsky, piano; Atakan Sari, piano; Sergei Podobedov, piano; Nikolai Zherenkov, violin; Globalis Symphony Orchestra, dir. Konstantin Krimets. CD. [England]: Black Box. 2007 – Ludwig van Beethoven: Choral Fantasy. Martin Berkofsky, piano; Globalis Symphony Orchestra, dir. Konstantin Krimets, Chorus of the Music College of the Moscow Conservatory. Johanness Brahms: Two Sonatas for clarinet and piano; Einar Johannesson, clarinet; Martin Berkofsky, piano. Robert Schumann: Fantasiestucke for clarinet and piano; Einar Johannesson, clarinet, Martin Berkofsky, piano. CD, Casanova, VA, Cristofori Foundation. 2007 – Nicolae Bretan: "The Songs of Nicolae Bretan". Alexandru Agache, baritone, Martin Berkofsky, piano. CD. Wyastone Leys, Monmouth: Nimbus. 2011 – Franz Liszt: "Visions" piano works; Étude d’exécution transcendante no. 11 "Harmonies du Soir" S 139, Légende no. 1: St. Françoisd’Assise. La prédication aux oiseaux S 173:1, Légende no. 2: St. François de Paule marchant sur les flots S 173:2, Ave Maria "Die Glocken von Rom" S 182, Hungarian Rhapsody no. 12 S 244, Sancta Dorothea S 187, Étude d’exécution transcendante no. 7 "Vision" S 139, Pater Noster from Harmonies poétiques et religieuses S 173, Martin Berkofsky, piano, Hybrid SACD. Germany, ARTS Music. 2011 – Ludwig van Beethoven "HOPE". Benefit for Assistance in Health Care and Donatori di Musica. Ludwig van Beethoven: Choral Fantasy. Martin Berkofsky, piano; Globalis Symphony Orchestra, dir. Konstantin Krimets, Chorus of the Music College of the Moscow Conservatory. Sonata Op. 2 No. 2, Martin Berkofsky, piano. Sonata Op. 110, Atakan Sari, piano, Sonata Op. 27 No. 2, Roberto Prosseda, piano. CD. US, Casanova, VA, Cristofori Foundation. 2012 – Alan Hovhaness "Alan Hovhaness * Martin Berkofsky, The Historic Moscow Recordings". Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, Mihr, Vijag, Ko ola u, Lousadzak with Martin Berkofsky, Atakan Sari, Sergei Podobedov, pianos; Andrei Ikov, trumpet; Nicolai Zherenkov, violin; Globalis Symphony Orchestra conducted by Konstantin Krimets. CD. US, Casanova, VA, Cristofori Foundation.