About
Karim Said, pianist, conductor
HONORARY GUEST CONDUCTOR FOR PRICE CARNEGIE GALA CONCERT WITH ORCHESTRA MANHATTAN ON NOVEMBER 26, 2024 AT CARNEGIE WEILL RECITAL HALL
"What you cannot learn, he already knows.... exceptional talent!"
-Daniel Barenboim
‘A born communicator’ -
'The Independent‘
"A serious musician" -
Sir Colin Davis
Karim Said has performed on some of the world’s most renowned stages, captivating audiences both as a solo pianist and chamber musician. This was made possible largely through his association with Danie Barenboim, who first heard Karim perform at the age of ten, saying: ‘what you cannot learn, he already knows.’ Highlights include appearances at such festivals and venues as the UK’s Aldeburgh Festival, Philharmonie in Berlin, Philharmonie de Paris, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Teatro a la Scala, Milan the Great Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, Tokyo’s Musashino Centre, and the Luzerne and Salzburg Festivals.
Karim Said is known for pushing the boundaries of artistic expression as an award-winning pianist, a conductor, and a composer. From an early age, his talent and dedication have propelled him to the forefront of the classical music scene. His first major concerto performances were in 2009 at London’s Barbican Centre with the English Chamber Orchestra under the baton of the late Sir Colin Davies, and with the West-East Divan Orchestra under Daniel Barenboim at the BBC Proms - Royal Albert Hall.
One of Karim's distinguishing strengths lies in his ability to draw connections between different eras of Western classical music. His talent and interests extend to modern and renaissance music, as evidenced by his critically acclaimed ‘exceptionally thoughtful’ (The Guardian) album, "Legacy, "which draws connections between the works of William Byrd and Albert Schoenberg. Karim’sreleases also include his album “Echoes from an Empire” - 2015. His love for Schoenberg's music led him to perform the composer's complete piano published works at the London Southbank Centre's prestigious festival, "The Rest Is Noise’’.
“Said's genial shaping of the Menuett and Trio casts this music in a lilting light that differs from Maurizio Pollini's etched bleakness or Glenn Gould’s dry-point humour.”
- Jed Distler - Gramophone Magazine, 2019
Driven by his fascination with the sound of the orchestra and the creative process, Karim ventured into conducting and composing at an early age, embracing a comprehensive artistic path. He was the subject of the BBC4/Allegro Films documentary ‘Karim’s Journey’, which followed his progress as a developing artist at the Purcell School of Music in the UK, where he was awarded a full scholarship.
Most recently, he co-founded the Amman Chamber Orchestra and Amman Institute of Performing Arts in Jordan, aiming to create a vibrant hub for musical education and performances in the Middle East. His dedication to music and his native community has earned him international recognition.
Karim Said is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, London - UK.
