Piano, Organ
Pianist & Organist Bengt Forsberg is an outstanding pianist and organist known for his artistic versatility and his passion for forgotten masterpieces. As one of Sweden's most prominent chamber musicians, he has collaborated with numerous renowned artists and built an excellent reputation as a sensitive accompanist and soloist.
Born in 1952 in Edsleskog, Sweden, Bengt Forsberg showed exceptional musical talent from a young age. He studied at the Royal College of Music in Gothenburg, where he focused intensively on piano, organ and chamber music. During his studies, he developed a particular interest in lesser-known composers and rarely performed works – a passion that would shape his entire career.
Forsberg is known for his adventurous spirit and tireless commitment to works that lie beyond the classical canon. While many pianists focus primarily on the standard repertoire, he dedicates himself with great passion to the compositions of Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Charles-Valentin Alkan, Gabriel Pierné, Léon Boëllmann and others. His playing is characterized by an extraordinary richness of sound, technical precision and deeply felt musicality that brings even the most hidden musical jewels to life.
A central element of Bengt Forsberg's career is chamber music. He has performed with numerous outstanding soloists, but his most famous partnership is with Swedish mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter. For many years, the two musicians have accompanied each other, producing some of the most remarkable song recordings of the past decades. Their joint albums include works by Edvard Grieg, Gabriel Fauré, Jean Sibelius, as well as a moving collection of songs from the Theresienstadt concentration camp. This musical collaboration has not only earned Forsberg international recognition, but also proven how essential his sensitive accompaniment is to von Otter's extraordinary interpretations.
Bengt Forsberg is a master at making the piano sing. His playing is marked by an exceptional combination of technical precision, creative depth and nuanced sound shaping. Particularly remarkable is his ability to bring out the finest nuances of a composition, imbuing even lesser-known works with impressive vitality and expressiveness. With his empathetic piano playing, he succeeds in filling each piece with a special emotionality that deeply moves the listener.
In addition to the piano, Bengt Forsberg is also an organist – an instrument that fascinates him just as much. As an organist, he has performed not only solo works but also concerts with choirs and orchestras. His ability to explore the tonal possibilities of the organ has made him a sought-after performer. In Sweden, he has made a name for himself as the chamber music director of All Saints Church in Stockholm, where he regularly performs and shapes the city’s musical life.
Bengt Forsberg’s impressive discography includes both solo albums and outstanding chamber music recordings. Particularly noteworthy are his albums with Anne Sofie von Otter, including Songs by Grieg and Brahms as well as Songs by Berg, Korngold and Strauss. In his solo albums, he focuses on rarely performed works. One of his most remarkable albums is “Swedish Miniatures”, a collection of piano works by Swedish composers such as Henning Mankell, Sara Wennerberg-Reuter and Tor Aulin.
Bengt Forsberg is much more than a pianist and organist – he is a musical visionary who constantly seeks new ways of expression and continually uncovers hidden treasures from music history. His ability to capture the deepest emotionality of music and communicate it to his audience makes him a unique artistic personality. Whether as a soloist, chamber musician or accompanist – Forsberg always manages to touch his listeners with his playing and take them on a musical journey of discovery.
Dive into the world of Bengt Forsberg and stream his impressive recordings on STAGE+. On our streaming platform, you can enjoy his masterful piano artistry and the emotional depth of his chamber music anytime and anywhere in the highest audio quality. Discover the diversity of his repertoire and let his musicianship inspire you!
