Photo: File:Krystian Zimerman 2018.jpg / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Krystian Zimerman is, simply put, in a class of his own. Winning the Chopin Competition at eighteen in 1975 and going on to be called one of the greatest pianists of his generation is the stuff of legend. What captivates me is his uncompromising perfectionism, the famous insistence on shipping his own piano around the world so the instrument never lets the music down. That is what an artist should be. The Sonning Prize, the honorary doctorate from Chopin University, the decorations from Poland all confirm what the playing already tells you. I would give anything to hear him live.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Krystian Zimerman
- Name (Japanese)
- クリスティアン・ツィマーマン
- Reading
- くりすてぃあん・つぃまーまん
- Born
- December 5, 1956 (age 69)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Sagittarius / Monkey
- Origin
- Zabrze, Silesian Voivodeship, Poland
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- pianist / conductor / composer / music educator
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- 2010 Golden Medal for Merit to Culture
- 1994 Léonie Sonning Music Prize
- 2013 Commander with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- 2015 honorary doctor of the Chopin University of Music
- 1995 Echo Klassik – Chamber Music Recording of the Year
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Krystian Zimerman born?
Born December 5, 1956 (age 69).
Where is Krystian Zimerman from?
Krystian Zimerman is from Zabrze, Silesian Voivodeship, Poland.
What does Krystian Zimerman do?
Krystian Zimerman works as pianist, conductor, composer, music educator.
Pianist — see all → · Conductor — see all → · More people from Poland →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.