Biography

  Israeli pianist Irena Friedland was named as:
”one of the most appreciated musicians in Israel“
( Ha’aretz, 2005)
She is highly regarded among international audiences and by the press: 
“Warm and exciting playing”
(Tidning, Finland);
“very wide color scale, power and romantic fire"
(Haller Tagblatt, Germany)
“True sound spectacle”
(De Gelderlander, Netherlands)

“Irena Friedland brings a big technique and plenty of warmth and intelligence to her playing … sophisticated musical understanding … flexibility and musical maturity not often heard…Friedland’s musical intelligence shines through in her reading of the Franck… not many pianists seem to pull it off.  “
(American Record Guide)

Miss Friedland has graduated "Summa cum Laude" from The Buchmann-Mehta School of Music  at the Tel Aviv University.
She went on to pursue an active performing career both as soloist and chamber musician: France, Germany, Russia, Norway, Belgium, Italy, Holland, Finland, Sweden and the USA.
Ms. Friedland has recorded numerous radio programs, released three CD’s for Romeo Records(USA), which was highly praised by some of the important music periodicals such as the American Record Guide and International Piano.

Since 2000 Irena Friedland has been intensively involved in developing her new career as a lecturer, concentrating on exploring the various interactions between audio and visual arts, the relationships between sound and color, and between musical compositions and various paintings and sculptures. She is lecturing and teaching academic courses regularly, with emphasis on this topic in Israel and abroad: France, Finland, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium,UK and USA.

Ms.Friedland is currently on the teaching faculty at Haifa University (in Music and Multi- Disciplinary Studies departments) and at Tel Aviv University (the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music).
She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Musicology Department at Tel Aviv University ,where she is  researching the interactions between music and visual arts.

Reviews

"The strong impact of the performance resulted from convincing emotional expression that stayed clear of sentimentality or theatricality"

The Jerusalem Post

"Irena Friedland was always impressive with her very great ability and high virtuosity"

Haller Tagblatt, Germany

"...Very impressive performance" (Mendelssons Concerto)

Haarez, Israel

"Irena Friedland's playing was warm and exiting"

Jakobstads Tidning, Finland

"Irena Friedland played with a very wide color scale and her playing burst with power and romantic fire"

Haller, Tagblatt ,Germany

The graceful and tasteful presentation of Mozarts Concerto (Piano Duo with J.Zak)

The Jerusalem Post

Irena Friedlandis a talented musician andshe has a lot to offer as a pianist.
The variations on a theme of Robert Schumann by Clara Schumann were the highlight of the evening. The fragile theme was beautifully developed into a true sound spectacle.

De Gelderlander, Netherlands

This is one of the best recordings of the Lutoslawski I have heardI highly recommend it (Piano Duo with J.Zak)

American Record Guide

A new recording by Irena Friedland and Jonathan Zak demonstrates the captivating effect, their interplay is close and flexible, and almost tricking a listener into believing that one extremely nimble, sensitive pianist is negotiating these incredible feats.

Gramophone Magazine

I. Friedland brings a big technique and plenty of warmth and intelligence to her playing (Liszt)sophisticated musical understanding (Janacek)flexibility and musical maturity not often heard (Haydn)Friedlands musical intelligence shines through in her reading of the Franck not many pianists seem to pull it off.

American Record Guide

Irena Friedland is a natural recording artist, demonstraiting the kind of freewheeling spontaneity that one normally only encounters in concertshe delivers the Franck with an emotional resource that is highly compelling.

International Piano

The Friedland/Zak duo offers impressive ensemble finesse and musical insightrefinement of phrasing, careful balances between instruments, and occasionally fussy pointing; the Mozart Sonata gets a direct and vivacious reading that can stand with the catalog's best.

Classics Today