Born in Brazil in 1957, he won the Rio de Janeiro International Piano Competition and went to Vienna to study with Bruno Seidlhofer. Seven years later he won the Dinu Lipatti Medal in London and First Prize at the International Vianna da Motta Competition in Lisbon. He is constantly invited to collaborate with the most renowned orchestras and the most eminent conductors. He performs recitals in the world’s major concert halls. He toured Japan (2003), Brasil and Argentina (2004) and North America (New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Quebec, 2005) with Martha Argerich. In 2005/06, he had a great success at the BBC Proms in London. Nelson Freire has recorded for Sony/CBS, Teldec, DGG, IPAM, and London labels. Philips released his most coveted performances on their acclaimed series, Great Pianists of the 20th Century and his recording of Chopin’s 24 Préludes for CBS received the Edison Prize. His DECCA recordings of Chopin, Schumann and Brahms Concertos 1 and 2 with the Leipzig Gewandhaus under Riccardo Chailly received prestigious prizes, including the Diapason d’Or, the Grand Prix de l’Académie Charles Cros, the Choc du Monde de la Musique. Nelson Freire was nominated Soloist of the Year 2002 by the French Victoires de la Musique and, in 2005, received a special Honours Award for lifetime achievement. In 2006, his Chopin CD won a Grammy nomination for best solo recording.