Bilson, Malcolm
Bilson, Malcolm
Bilson, Malcolm distinguished American pianist, fortepianist, and pedagogue; b. Los Angeles, Oct. 24, 1935. He studied at Bard Coll. (B.A., 1957), the Vienna Academy of Music (1959), the Paris École Normale de Musique (1960), and the Univ. of 111. (M.M., 1962; D.M.A., 1968). In 1968 he joined the faculty of Cornell Univ. as an asst. prof., and subsequently served there as an assoc. prof. (1970–75), prof. (from 1975), and as the Frederick J. Whiton prof. of Music (from 1990). As a performing artist, Bilson has championed the cause of playing works of the Classical and Romantic eras on original instruments or modern replicas. In addition to many recital and chamber music performances, he has appeared as a soloist with both period and modern instrument orchs. on both sides of the Atlantic. He is particularly esteemed for his insightful interpretations of works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, and Schumann.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire