B i o g r a p h y
Belgian pianist Ben Roels is one of the last pianists who had the honor to study with legendary Italian pianist Aldo Ciccolini.
He first obtained the Master Diploma at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp.
He continued his education with Leon Fleischer (Master class Germany), Eliane Rodrigues (Belgium) and Lionel Bowman (South-Africa)
He obtained the “Diplôme Supérieur de piano” at the “Ecole Normale de Musique Alfred Cortot” in Paris where he studied with the French pianist and famous Liszt interpreter France Clidat.
After 3 amazing years having the privilege working with France Clidat, he became pupil for 3 years of the legendary Italian pianist Aldo Ciccolini (Paris/France).
He made his concert debut with Rachmaninov’s 2nd piano concerto and presently offers an extended concerto repertoire including Mozart, Van Beethoven, Liszt, De Greef, Tchaikovsky, Shostakowitch, Debussy and Gershwin.
In recitals he often plays works from “forgotten” composers such as Arthur De Greef (Belgian pianist/composer and pupil of Liszt).
Ben Roels performed in Belgium (Festival of Flanders, Centre of fine Arts Brussels “Palais des Beaux Arts Henry Le Boeuf Hall, deSingel Antwerp), The Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain, the U.S.A, South Africa. He performed in Turkey and was invited to teach a Master Class at the Ankara State University.
He made his China debut with a successful concert tour with the program 'The Maestro and his Pupil': works of Franz Liszt and his Belgian pupil Arthur De Greef..
His CD “Liszt Revisited” and his latest CD 'EMOTIONS' were both released by Senzanome in Brussels.
Ben Roels is Steinway Artist.
France Clidat: ' Ben Roels reinvents the music on stage and plays different when audience is
present. The need of communication with the audience is always there, to share the
emotion and the colors of the sound....'
Aldo Ciccolini: Pianist Ben Roels has no fear to present the Masterworks on stage and
succeeds to forget the technical challenge during telling his musical story....'