His international career begins in 1959: Europe, USA, Central and South America, Japan and Israel.
He has collaborated with distinguished conductors such as Pierre BOULEZ, Lionel BRINGUIER, Riccardo CHAILLY, Myung-Whun CHUNG, Charles DUTOIT, Rafael FRÜHBECK de BURGOS, Valery GERGIEV, Eugene JOCHUM, Fabio LUISI, Lorin MAAZEL, Kurt MASUR, Ingo METZMACHER, Rudolf KEMPE (tours in the United States and Germany with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), Vaclav NEUMANN, Seiji OZAWA, André PREVIN, Tugan SOKHIEV, Yuri TEMIRKANOV, Ilan VOLKOV…
He is invited by prestigious orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Munich Philharmonic, Bayerische Rundfunk, Deutsches Symphony Orchester, Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Danish Radio Symphony, Mariinsky Orchestra, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Tonhalle Orchestra of Zurich, Vienna Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, St Petersburg Philharmonic, London Symphony, BBC Scottish Symphony, BBC Symphony, Israel Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic, Seoul Philharmonic, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre de Toulouse, Radio France Philharmonic, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, as well as American Orchestras of Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Montreal, New York, Philadelphia… With Martha Argerich, he toured Japan in 2003, Brazil and Argentina in 2004 and USA in 2005 (New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Québec).
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 on CBS received the “Prix Edison”. As an exclusive DECCA Artists: Chopin, Schumann and Brahms Concertos 1 and 2 with the Gewandhaus zu Leipzig under Riccardo Chailly, Beethoven Sonatas, Debussy, Preludes, Chopin Nocturnes, Liszt solo pieces and “Brazileiro” with Brazilian composers and Live from Salzburg with Martha Argerich (DGG). For his recordings he received numerous prices : Diapason d’Or of the Year, Grand Prix de l’Académie Charles Cros, Choc du Monde de la Musique, 10 by Repertoire, Classica, Grammy Awards, Chopin with the Gïrzenich Orchester Cologne and Lionel Bringuier.
He is appointed Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.
Nelson Freire was nominated “Soloist of the Year 2002” by French Victoires de la Musique and received in January 2005 a special “Honours Award” for his career. His Chopin recording is nominated by Grammy Awards 2006. His Brahms Concertos with Riccardo Chailly are nominated by Grammy Awards 2007 and announced “Record of the Years” and “Winner of the Concerto Category” by Classic FM Gramophone Awards 2007. Chopin’s Nocturnes is nominated in the category “Instrumental Solo“ by Grammy Awards 2010 and his lats released CD “Brasileiro” Villa-Lobos & Friends received the Grammy Awards 2013 as the best classical recording for South America.
