JOSEPH KALICHSTEIN is first of all a musician, then a pianist. Music for him is a message from one soul to another. His interpretations are like a cornucopia of animated and eloquent nuances. Kalichstein, best known as one-third of the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio, also is a formidable soloist. He was winner after all, of the prestigious Leventritt Competition nearly 30 years ago, an event that also catapulted Alexis Weissenberg and Leon Fleisher, among others to fame.

Born in Tel Aviv, Mr Kalichstein came to the United States in 1962. His principal teachers included Joshua Shor in Israel and Edward Steuermann and Ilona Kabos at The Julliard School. He gave a heralded New York recital debut and at the invitation of Leonard Bernstein, performed Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with the New York Philharmonic in a nationally televised concert on CBS.

With his diverse repertoire of works ranging from Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms to 20th century works by Bartok, Prokofiev and others, Mr Kalichstein has collaborated with such celebrated conductors as Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez, James Conlon, Christoph von Dohnanyi, James DePreist, Charles Dutoit, Lawrence Foster, Zubin Mehta, Andre Previn, Kurt Sanderling, Leonard Slatkin, Edo de Waart and many more. He has appeared with many of the major orchestras of the world. A favorite of New York concertgoers, Mr Kalichstein has appeared in several recitals on Carnegie Hall's "Keyboard Virtuosi" series.