Giorgio Koukl is a pianist/harpsichordist and composer who lives in Lugano, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino in southern Switzerland. He was born in Prague in 1953, and studied there at the State Music School and Conservatory. In 1968 he moved to Switzerland and continued his studies at both the Conservatories of Zurich and Milan. It was during a masterclass with Rudolf Firkušný that Koukl first encountered Martinů's music. Thrilled and inspired by the discovery, Koukl quickly began incorporating the piano works of his fellow countryman as an important part of his performance repertoire. By a strange parallel of history, much as the Martinůs left Paris in 1938 to escape the Nazi armies, in 1968, thirty years later, when Koukl moved to Switzerland, Russian tanks rolled into Prague. He is now considered as one of the world 's leading interpreters of Martinů's piano music.

Giorgio Koukl won many International Music Competitions including those of Ciudad Ibaguè (Colombia), Viotti (Italy), and the Aliènor Competition (Washington DC, USA). He gives many recitals and concertos performances, and his compositions have received first performances in major European cities, in Asia, and in the United States.

For more information, please visit Giorgio Koukl’s website.

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