Len Vorster

Len Vorster was born in 1954 in South Africa. After postgraduate piano studies with the eminent American pianist Lamar Crowson at the University of Cape Town, he left for Australia in 1983. He made his concerto debut with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra in Mozart's Piano Concerto K456 in 1976.

As concerto soloist he has recorded Michael Easton's Concerto on Australian Themes with the State Orchestra of Victoria for Naxos, and premiered the work in Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Germany, and with the Royal Academy Orchestra in London in 2001. He has given further concerts in America, Taiwan and Hong Kong, and appeared at the Melbourne International Festival, Melbourne Spoleto Festival, Messiaen Festival (in the presence of Messiaen at Melba Hall in 1988), Sydney Festival, Barossa Festival and Castlemaine State Festival.

His recordings have drawn outstanding reviews worldwide, including a Gramophone Magazine award for his Naxos two-piano version of Holst's The Planets (with Robert Chamberlain). Barber & Debussy, with cellist David Berlin, was nominated among Limelight Magazine's best classical CDs of 2011. In 2022 Naxos released his recording with British tenor Ian Partridge of the complete songs and solo piano music of Lord Berners. With soprano Merlyn Quaife he has been nominated for an ARIA award for his Naxos recording of songs and solo piano music by Manuel de Falla. The same year he recorded the solo piano album Night Thoughts, and songs and solo piano music by Melbourne composer Lachlan Brown. His earlier solo album is Summer Waves. Further releases appear on Marco Polo, ABC Classics, Tall Poppies and Move Records, including discs with soprano Vivien Hamilton and flautist Masahide Kurita.

He was founding Artistic Director of the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival (1990–2001), and artistic director of Classical Palette (a Naxos series devoted to contemporary music) and of Open Mind, staged concerts of musical, literary, visual and dance events for the Victorian Arts Centre.

For many years he was on the piano staff of the University of Melbourne, Monash University and the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School.

lenvorster.net

Artist's website: lenvorster.net