Benita Meshulam

Benita Meshulam, an acclaimed pianist, is celebrated for her deep connection to the music of Albeniz and Granados, a passion rooted in her Sephardic heritage dating back to pre-Christian Spain. Her profound and intense interpretations of Spanish music have captivated audiences for over a decade. Since specializing in Spanish repertoire in 1990, Ms. Meshulam has recorded extensively, earning accolades from Classic CD Magazine, BBC Magazine, and a Grammy nomination. Notably, she has re-recorded Iberia on an 1877 Erard piano, courtesy of the Frederick Piano Collection. Ms. Meshulam received her early training under Sidney Foster in Bloomington, Indiana, before studying with distinguished mentors such as Adele Marcus, Karen Shaw, Janos Starker, and Gyorgy Sebok. She later refined her artistry with Richard Goode in New York and Murray Perahia in London. Her debut performances in New York (1980) and London (1981) garnered enthusiastic reviews, including from The New York Times. She has since performed in prestigious venues across the United States and Europe, including Caramoor, Santa Fe, and the Rubinstein Commemoration Concerts in New York City, and has given masterclasses at institutions like the Utrecht Conservatorium and the Lemmens Institute. Ms. Meshulam has been featured on David Dubal’s Reflections from the Keyboard on WQXR and NPR’s New Sounds with John Schaeffer. Her performances have included Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain with the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra, as well as the premieres of works by Montsalvatge, who praised her recordings as exemplary interpretations of his compositions. Her latest release, a two-CD set of Manuel de Falla's complete piano music on Brilliant Classics, has been met with critical acclaim. In addition to her performances, Ms. Meshulam has shared her insights through scholarly work, authoring an article on Montsalvatge for Piano Today Magazine. She has also contributed to the advancement of Spanish music studies, presenting lecture-recitals for the Foundation for Iberian Music at the CUNY Graduate Center. A dedicated educator, she is a member of the Board of Directors of the Leschetizky Association and continues to inspire through her teaching and artistry.