Léon Berben, born in 1970 in Heerlen, the Netherlands, is a renowned Dutch organist and harpsichordist specializing in early music. He studied organ and harpsichord in Amsterdam and The Hague, graduating as a soloist. His teachers include such major figures in historical performance as Rienk Jiskoot, Ton Koopman, Tini Mathot and Gustav Leonhardt, of whom he was one of the last pupils.
From 2000 to 2006, Berben was harpsichordist with the Musica Antiqua Köln ensemble, performing in Europe, North and South America and Asia. After disbanding the ensemble, he embarked on a solo career, performing at prestigious international festivals such as the Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht, the Festival de Saintes, the Lucerne Festival and the Festival de Música Antiga de Barcelona .
Berben is organist of the historic organ at St. Andrew's Church in Ostönnen, Germany, considered one of the oldest playable organs in the world. He is also senior resident organist at the Pieterskerk in Leiden, the Netherlands, where he plays the van Hagerbeer organ dating from 1643.
His repertoire covers mainly keyboard music composed between 1550 and 1790. He has recorded works by composers such as Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, Johann Ulrich Steigleder, Vincent Lübeck, Johann Caspar Kerll and Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. His recordings, often on historic instruments, have won numerous awards, including the Diapason d'Or, the Choc du Monde de la Musique and the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik.
In addition to his concert activities, Berben is also a musicologist. He has contributed articles on historical performance practice and co-written entries for the musical encyclopedia "Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart".
His notable recordings include the complete keyboard works of Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, published in 2015 to critical acclaim and awarded a Diapason d'Or.
Upcoming program
Concert All audiences
Duration: approx. 1h15
From 2000 to 2006, Berben was harpsichordist with the Musica Antiqua Köln ensemble, performing in Europe, North and South America and Asia. After disbanding the ensemble, he embarked on a solo career, performing at prestigious international festivals such as the Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht, the Festival de Saintes, the Lucerne Festival and the Festival de Música Antiga de Barcelona .
Berben is organist of the historic organ at St. Andrew's Church in Ostönnen, Germany, considered one of the oldest playable organs in the world. He is also senior resident organist at the Pieterskerk in Leiden, the Netherlands, where he plays the van Hagerbeer organ dating from 1643.
His repertoire covers mainly keyboard music composed between 1550 and 1790. He has recorded works by composers such as Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, Johann Ulrich Steigleder, Vincent Lübeck, Johann Caspar Kerll and Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. His recordings, often on historic instruments, have won numerous awards, including the Diapason d'Or, the Choc du Monde de la Musique and the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik.
In addition to his concert activities, Berben is also a musicologist. He has contributed articles on historical performance practice and co-written entries for the musical encyclopedia "Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart".
His notable recordings include the complete keyboard works of Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, published in 2015 to critical acclaim and awarded a Diapason d'Or.
Upcoming program
Concert All audiences
Duration: approx. 1h15
