3 ms·

Celebrated pianist and writer Alfred Brendel dies aged 94

69 points by mykowebhn 1y ago

toomuchtodo 1y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Brendel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Brendel https://alfredbrendel.com/ https://alfredbrendel.com/ https://www.bruceduffie.com/brendel2.html https://www.bruceduffie.com/brendel2.html https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03h7grg https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03h7grg
mykowebhn 1y ago
One of my favorite pianists. His recording(s) of the complete Beethoven Sonatas are unequaled, IMHO. His intellectual approach was balanced by an emotional expressiveness that would often move me to tears. I never got to see him perform, but I was able to see him speak at Harvard after his retirement from the concert stage. He was a giant and I will miss him.
- sunrunner 1y ago
  I wholeheartedly agree and can only really add my own personal examples. I think the first recording of his I heard was Beethoven's Piano Sonata No.18, Op.31 No.3 from the 1970-77 recordings, and I was struck by just how different his interpretation was compared to some of the perhaps-more-well-known performers such as Daniel Barenboim. Even just the first two bars from the first movement were different and interesting enough to capture my attention.
2b3a51 1y ago
I saw Brendel perform Beethoven, Mozart and Schubert pieces at Symphony Hall in Birmingham some time ago. Google tells me it was 2008 [1]. The Schubert sonata in B flat was the last piece and I was in pieces, I've always found that one a roller-coaster. The hall was full, 2000+ people, and for a change plenty of younger people (I'm in my 7th decade and often I'm sort of lower quartile in age at some concerts). We have the recordings at least. [1] https://www.business-live.co.uk/retail-consumer/review-alfred-brendel-symphony-hall-3959552 https://www.business-live.co.uk/retail-consumer/review-alfre...
- ziotom78 1y ago
  The B-flat sonata is one of my most beloved pieces! There is a recording by Brendel released by Philips that contains the last three sonatas and the three Klavierstücke [1]. I highly recommend it! [1] https://www.pianistdiscography.com/discography/pianistLabel.php?cdnum=18371 https://www.pianistdiscography.com/discography/pianistLabel....
- mykowebhn 1y ago
  Thank you for sharing this! I had no idea the B flat sonata was the last piece he played. It's one of my favorites, but I can't listen to it that often because I find it so sad and wistful, and now knowing this it might be even more so!
viccis 1y ago
Wow, sad to hear. His Beethoven and Schubert recordings in particular are phenomenal. He has left quite a legacy.
djtango 1y ago
While many will speak of his Schubert and Beethoven, I always liked him for his coverage of Liszt[1] and used his recording of the full Années de pèlerinage as a reference of sorts. [1] https://geocities.restorativland.org/Vienna/2192/essays4.html https://geocities.restorativland.org/Vienna/2192/essays4.htm...
- johngossman 1y ago
  My favorite too.
- ysofunny 1y ago
  because of just don't tell me, show me here is one of Liszt's most well known pieces played by Brendel Hungarian Rhapsodies S. 244 No. 2 Lento a capriccioso (Alfred Brendel)(1968) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeuzUVQDsEw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeuzUVQDsEw how had I not heard this versions? thanks
- bonki 1y ago
  Another, lesser-known gem: His recording of Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition.

69 points by mykowebhn 1y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Brendel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Brendel https://alfredbrendel.com/ https://alfredbrendel.com/ https://www.bruceduffie.com/brendel2.html https://www.bruceduffie.com/brendel2.html https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03h7grg https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03h7grg

mykowebhn 1y ago

One of my favorite pianists. His recording(s) of the complete Beethoven Sonatas are unequaled, IMHO. His intellectual approach was balanced by an emotional expressiveness that would often move me to tears. I never got to see him perform, but I was able to see him speak at Harvard after his retirement from the concert stage. He was a giant and I will miss him.

sunrunner 1y ago
I wholeheartedly agree and can only really add my own personal examples. I think the first recording of his I heard was Beethoven's Piano Sonata No.18, Op.31 No.3 from the 1970-77 recordings, and I was struck by just how different his interpretation was compared to some of the perhaps-more-well-known performers such as Daniel Barenboim. Even just the first two bars from the first movement were different and interesting enough to capture my attention.

2b3a51 1y ago

I saw Brendel perform Beethoven, Mozart and Schubert pieces at Symphony Hall in Birmingham some time ago. Google tells me it was 2008 [1]. The Schubert sonata in B flat was the last piece and I was in pieces, I've always found that one a roller-coaster. The hall was full, 2000+ people, and for a change plenty of younger people (I'm in my 7th decade and often I'm sort of lower quartile in age at some concerts). We have the recordings at least. [1] https://www.business-live.co.uk/retail-consumer/review-alfred-brendel-symphony-hall-3959552 https://www.business-live.co.uk/retail-consumer/review-alfre...

ziotom78 1y ago
The B-flat sonata is one of my most beloved pieces! There is a recording by Brendel released by Philips that contains the last three sonatas and the three Klavierstücke [1]. I highly recommend it! [1] https://www.pianistdiscography.com/discography/pianistLabel.php?cdnum=18371 https://www.pianistdiscography.com/discography/pianistLabel....
mykowebhn 1y ago
Thank you for sharing this! I had no idea the B flat sonata was the last piece he played. It's one of my favorites, but I can't listen to it that often because I find it so sad and wistful, and now knowing this it might be even more so!

viccis 1y ago

Wow, sad to hear. His Beethoven and Schubert recordings in particular are phenomenal. He has left quite a legacy.

djtango 1y ago

While many will speak of his Schubert and Beethoven, I always liked him for his coverage of Liszt[1] and used his recording of the full Années de pèlerinage as a reference of sorts. [1] https://geocities.restorativland.org/Vienna/2192/essays4.html https://geocities.restorativland.org/Vienna/2192/essays4.htm...

johngossman 1y ago
My favorite too.
ysofunny 1y ago
because of just don't tell me, show me here is one of Liszt's most well known pieces played by Brendel Hungarian Rhapsodies S. 244 No. 2 Lento a capriccioso (Alfred Brendel)(1968) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeuzUVQDsEw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeuzUVQDsEw how had I not heard this versions? thanks
bonki 1y ago
Another, lesser-known gem: His recording of Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition.