Nathaniel Mander is a harpsichordist and fortepianist whose deep love of music and passion for the 18th century have led him to devote himself to the keyboard instruments of the time. Through his studies in the UK and Europe he has developed a very expressive, personal and authentic touch.
He is now regarded as one of the leading players of his generation. His performances have taken him throughout the UK and Europe and to the United States and South America.
At a young age Nathaniel was entranced by the unique sound of the harpsichord and was inspired to take up the instrument. He began his education with Richard Lester in Cirencester, where he also gave his first recitals. Nathaniel moved to London in 2007 to train at the Royal Academy of Music with Carole Cerasi.
In 2010 Nathaniel won first prize at the Early Keyboard Ensemble Competition at Fenton House. The following year he took first prize at the 10th Broadwood Harpsichord Competition, and later won 2nd place at the Gianni Gambi Harpsichord competition in Pesaro (Italy), the Accompanist's Prize for the John Kerr Award at Finchcocks and the Harold Samuel Bach Solo Keyboard Prize at the Royal Academy of Music. In 2014 Nathaniel held the Linda Hill Junior Fellowship at the Royal College of Music for two consecutive years.
He later travelled to Paris and Rome in order to study with Béatrice Martin, Elisabeth Joyé, Skip Sempe and Pierre Hantai. Along with Carole Cerasi, who deeply influenced his sound and approach to the instrument, these remain his most important musical influences.
His debut solo recording with ICSM records, a recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations on his harpsichord made by Andrew Garlick, was released in 2022 to great acclaim. Prior to this he recorded a disk of 18th century French repertoire on the beautiful Dragon harpsichord at Raynham Hall in Norfolk: ‘The 18th century French salon’. In 2022 British composer Barry Mills composed a harpsichord concerto for Nathaniel which he recorded with the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra.
Nathaniel performs regularly in France after being invited by Marc Minkowski to join his celebrated orchestra Les Musiciens du Louvre in performances of their all-Rameau programme. He joined them for the 2022 opera season in Paris performing at the Palais Garnier in performances of Rameau’s opera Platée, a performance of which was broadcast live on France TV.
As solo recitalist Nathaniel has performed internationally a wide ranging repertoire from the Elizabethan Virginalists, through the sonatas of Mozart and Haydn, and right up to the music of Chopin and Schubert on fortepiano. He is particularly known for his expressive and virtuosic performances of the 18th century French masters and the music of Mozart.
Following the release of a new series of teaching videos that Nathaniel created for the Japanese Early Music organisation ‘Académie de Cour’, he has been invited to perform in Japan in 2024. Most recently Nathaniel had the pleasure of adjudicating the Eton College harpsichord competition.
“Nathaniel’s imaginative realisation... was a joy throughout... the palette of colours was extraordinary.”
“Real virtuosity... can be a given nowadays, but what can differentiate performers is their ability to go beyond that and to reveal their own, and the composer’s, musicality... Nathaniel Mander is about as far from the irritating ‘look-at-me’ antics of some performers as you can get...”
“Even if the word surely wasn’t invented for a Baroque artist: his performance had verve!”