A French pianist of Bulgarian birth, Alexis Weissenberg began musical studies a the age of three. He entered the Juilliard School of Music in 1946 and in the following year he made his New York debut under Szell. He interrupted his international career in 1956 with a ten-year period of retirement, for study and teaching. In November 1966 he played again in Paris, and since then has developed a wide-ranging second career. He has a wide repertoroire, but has a particular interest in the Romantic.