Piano legend Alfred Brendel died in London at the age of 94

Piano legend Alfred Brendel died in London at the age of 94

London, Großbritannien - The world -famous pianist and composer Alfred Brendel died in London today at the age of 94. Born on January 5, 1931 in Wizemberk, Czechoslovakia, Brendel grew up in a non-musical family and moved to Zagreb, then Yugoslavia at the age of three. There he started piano lessons at Sofija Deželić at the age of six. His musicality and commitment later led him to the conservatory in Graz, where he studied from Kaan and Artur Michel at Ludovica. 

During his life, Brendel developed an unmistakable style that was characterized by deep feeling and analytical thinking. He was celebrated for his outstanding interpretations of works by great composers such as Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, Liszt, Schumann and Schubert. Brendel was instrumental in the naturalization of the Schubert sonatas and the Schönberg piano concert in the international concert repertoire, which underlines its importance as an artist. Kleine Zeitung reports.

international career and success

from 1950 Brendel developed an international career as a pianist and performed in Europe, the Soviet Union, the USA and Japan. He gave his first public concert in Graz at the age of 17, where he presented works by Bach, Brahms, Liszt and his own sonata. Brendel was the first pianist to record the entire Beethoven piano work on record and performed significant works in sold -out concert halls. Among other things, he played all 32 piano sonatas from Beethoven over seven evenings in 1965 and 1982/83. Wikipedia emphasizes his recordings, including the complete piano concerts by Mozart in collaboration with Sir Neville Marriner.

The Salzburg Festival became an important part of his career, where he was active for decades and most recently performed as a teacher in his 'school of listening'. His farewell tour in 2008 was a great success, and the musician said goodbye with a last concert in New York in February 2008.

commitment to the music world and literary contributions

In addition to his active concert activity, Brendel also worked as an author and educator. He published numerous books and essays, including "Thinking about music" and "About Music", which reproduce his philosophical and musical thoughts. Brendel also carried out a 13-part television program entitled "Alfred Brendel plays Schubert" and was awarded numerous prizes for his contributions to music, including the Frankfurt Music Prize and the Echo Classical Award for his life's work. He also received honorary doctors from renowned universities, including Oxford and Yale.

The influential figure of classical music leaves a significant legacy. Brendel was not only an extraordinary pianist, but also a mentor for many aspiring musicians. His passion for the music and his commitment to the next generation will continue to sustainably sustainably in the music world. Wikipedia added that Brendel also became an honorary member of the Vienna Philharmonic and in 1999 received the honorary doctorate of the Royal College of Music in London in 1999. His life and work will be remembered as a tribute to the timeless power of music.