Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The obituary was featured in san diego uniontribune on january 17, 2015. Alfred brendel is one of the greatest pianists who has ever lived. Retired at eightyfive, and still a mire of complexities by daniel felsenfeld why should a musician with an active and absorbing career bother to write about matters of his trade. Alfred brendels place among the greatest musicians of the twentieth and twentyfirst centuries is assured. Since retiring from the stage in 2008, he has concentrated on lecturing, teaching and writing, and is the author of several books on music. Music, sense and nonsense by alfred brendel book read online. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading music, sense and nonsense. Alfred brendel, one of the greatest pianists of our time, is renowned for his masterly interpretations of haydn, mozart, beethoven, schubert and liszt, and has been credited with rescuing from oblivion the piano music of schuberts last years. For 60 years he has enjoyed a distinguished international career concentrating on the works of central european composers from bach to schoenberg as well as featuring many works by liszt. After so many years in the music business in new york, i had heard nearly every great artist in the world, and yet somehow had never heard mr. Order from your preferred classical music cd store. Is schubert, among great composers, the most immediately moving.
Its easy to fathom why alfred brendel is glad that decca has released these previously unpublished live performances of the schumann concerto and brahms handel variations. Avery was selected as one of the thirteen young artists age 12 to 15 to compete at the 2015 cleveland international piano competition. Lifetime achievement award for alfred brendel music dw. Alfred brendel has 25 books on goodreads with 1080 ratings. Playing the human game is his first and most comprehensive collection of poems in english appearing alongside their original german versions. Alfred brendel was born on january 5, 1931 in loucna nad desnou, czechoslovakia. Nov 20, 2015 a short insight from alfred brendel on his recording career.
Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest classical pianists of the second half of the 20th century. The robson press, 2015 2015 description x, 454 pages. The mix of thoughtfulness and brilliance that irradiates brendel s performances infuses these spirited essays. Books by alfred brendel author of a pianists az goodreads.
Alfred brendel discusses classical and romantic masterpieces, as well as various other musical subjects, in this collection of essays dating from the 1960s to the present. Anatomy of an obsession by ian bostridge knopf, 2015 among musical compositions of the highest order connected with the figure 24, the songs of winterreise occupy a special place. In this book, alfred brendel shows himself to be a thoughtful writer as well as a. One of the great interpreters of the core austrogerman repertoire, with mozart, beethoven, schubert, schumann and liszt at its centre, brendels career ran from 1948 to 2008 when he retired from concertgiving. Alfred brendels most popular book is a pianists az. The set is accompanied by a 200page book featuring a note by brendels personal choice of writer, misha donat. Ian bostridge at the hay festival, hayonwye, wales, 2012. A piano lovers reader, a lot of brief comments and definitions and opinions in alphabetical order. Alfred brendel at king edwards school king edwards music. See our exclusive arkivmusic reissues of alfred brendel recordings.
Alfred brendel, one of the greatest pianists of our time, is renowned for his. He recorded extensively, often returning to key works a number of times. Published june 14th 2016 by the robson press first published august 18th 2015. I n december 2008, alfred brendel played his last public concert at the musikverein in vienna. Book news brendel writes music as a matter of life and death, and that is a wonderful world to be able to step into. Alfred brendel studied piano and composition in zagreb and graz, completing his piano studies with edwin fischer, paul baumgartner and eduard steuermann. He no longer plays the piano in public, but he hasnt stopped writing. Sep 21, 2015 in a rare interview tom service talks to pianist alfred brendel, renowned interpreter of mozart, haydn, schubert and beethoven, about his life, career and new book on music. Official website includes biography, gallery with several private photos, discography by philips, current events and more needs flash plugin. Read music, sense and nonsense by alfred brendel for free with a 30 day free trial.
Complete philips recordings by bach, johann sebastian, haydn, franz joseph on cd. He was the first pianist ever to record the complete solo piano works of beethoven. The pianist alfred brendel kbe born 5 january 1931 was a recording artist for more than half a century, from his first record of prokofievs piano concerto no. Alfred brendel s most popular book is a pianists az. This weekend ive been reading the latest book by alfred brendel. Alfred brendel made his first recording at the age of 21 and has since recorded a wide range of piano repertoire. Alfred brendel is the preeminent thinking pianist, a loner to whom fame came through the power of imaginative integrity, an artist who has achieved at his best a divinatory rapport with piano literature from bach to schoenberg. They moved to zagreb, yugoslavia now croatia, when brendel was six and there he began piano lessons with sofija dezelic. Alfred brendel, renowned austrian pianist whose recordings and international concert appearances secured his reputation. A short insight from alfred brendel on his recording career. My father gave me, when i was about fifteen or sixteen years old, alfred brendel s great book, musical thoughts and afterthoughts. How alfred brendel makes perfect sense of classical music. It was a rare privilege for all of us to welcome one of the worlds greatest musicians to the school and it was an unforgettable occasion both for those who have listened to brendel play throughout their lives and for pupils whose. Recorded in various locations between 1992 and 1996.
Collected essays and lectures, by alfred brendel, biteback, rrp. Alfred brendel, one of the greatest pianists of our time, is renowned for his masterly interpretations of haydn, mozart, beethoven, schubert, and liszt, and has been credited with rescuing from oblivion the piano music of schuberts last years. Alfred brendel one of the great interpreters of the core austrogerman repertoire, with mozart, beethoven, schubert, schumann and liszt at its centre, brendel s career ran from 1948 to 2008 when he retired from concertgiving. Alfred brendel is a pianist and the author of several books of essays and poetry, most recently music, sense and nonsense. Brendel will hold a lecture, on august 10, 2015, during session 3 of interharmony international music festival in the konzertsaal des rathauses of sulzbachrosenberg. You can often detect a goodnatured smirk behind his words, but right there with it is a genuinely humane. In the concerto, theres a fluidity of phrasing and a chamberlike give and take between brendel, simon rattle, and the vienna philharmonic that we do not consistently.
Alfred brendel born january 5, 1931 is an austrian pianist, born in czechoslovakia. Collected essays and lectures kindle edition by brendel, alfred. Although he was known primarily for his interpretations of ludwig van beethovens works, his repertoire also featured such composers as franz schubert, franz liszt, and wolfgang amadeus mozart. Far from having merely one string to his bow, however, brendel is also one. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers. Alfred brendel kbe born 5 january 1931 is an austrian pianist, poet and author, known particularly for his performances of mozart, schubert, schoenberg, and especially beethoven. In a rare interview tom service talks to pianist alfred brendel, renowned interpreter of mozart, haydn, schubert and beethoven, about his life, career and new book. Yet by his account, i did not come from a musical or intellectual. Since the 1950s, brendel has been one of the most prolific recording artists in the world. Many of these essays are clearly intended for people with a somewhat advanced musical familiarity. Discover book depositorys huge selection of alfred brendel books online. He has been credited with almost singlehandedly rescuing from oblivion the piano music of schuberts last years.
From one of the worlds bestloved pianists, comes a hugely insightful and enjoyable book for all piano lovers. As alfred brendel brought to a close his public performing career in 2008, brilliant classics compiled a 35cd set devoted to the pianists complete solo and concerted discs for the vox, turnabout, and vanguard labels, recorded prior to the long affiliation with philips that helped cement his international career. Music lifetime achievement award for alfred brendel. Music, sense and nonsense collected essays and lectures by alfred brendel 464 pages, published 2015 by biteback publishing isbn. One of the 20th centurys greats, the 85yearold austrian pianist makes ears perk up even after the end of his concert career. Nov 15, 20 kirsty youngs castaway is the classical pianist, alfred brendel. Alfred brendel and john claughton, chief master of king edwards school. Brendel was born in wiesenberg, czechoslovakia now loucna nad desnou, czech republic to a nonmusical family. Some winter wonders by alfred brendel the new york. Alfred brendel s digital cycle of beethoven piano sonatas now available at budget price. Alfred brendel brings the clarity and originality of expression that characterize his performance to the printed page.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The definitive collection of alfred brendel s writings combines his two classic books, musical thoughts and afterthoughts and music sounded out and also includes new, previously unpublished essays. To celebrate his 85th birthday this month, we take a look back at his legendary career in pictures. And we will discuss some of them in a little while.
When i moved back to vancouver at the end of 2006 after twenty years away in new york, i went to the chan centre on march 23, 2007 to hear alfred brendel play. Alfred brendel is one of the greatest living pianists of our time, renowned for his masterly interpretations of haydn, mozart and beethoven. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest pianists of all time. And there are many thoughts and afterthoughts in that book. She was invited to perform in master classes at the 2015 southeastern piano festival and the 2015 oxford philomusica piano festival with alfred brendel as the festivals patron, andras schiff as president. For long an exclusive philips classics artist, alfred brendel is the recipient of the 2010 gramophone lifetime achievement award. The definitive collection of his awardwinning writings and essays, music, sense and nonsense combines all of his work originally published in his two classic books, musical thoughts and afterthoughts and music sounded out, along with significant new material on a lifetime of recording, performance habits and reflections on life and art. Ever since alfred brendel bid farewell to the concert stage after six decades of performing, he has been passing on his insight and experience in the form of lectures.
Brendel was born in vizmberk, czechoslovakia, now loucna nad desnou czech republic, to a nonmusical family. Hes a legend of the piano world, revered and applauded the world over. Alfred brendel alfred brendel, one of the greatest pianists of our time, is renowned for his masterly interpretations of haydn, mozart, beethoven, schubert and liszt, and has been credited with rescuing from. From memories of recording in icecold mansions to a moving essay on his fading hearing, this is an eloquent volume from a formidable intellect. Ever since alfred brendel bid farewell to the concert stage after six decades of performing, he has been passing on his insight and experience in the form of lectures, readings and masterclasses. You have to be aware of all the latent possibilities that give a work its special character its atmosphere, its moods, its contrasts. Alfred brendel s place among the greatest musicians of the twentieth and twentyfirst centuries is assured.
A pianist thinker in a rare interview from may 2004, fred child talks with pianist alfred brendel on the eve of the musicians u. A performer of world renown, his career spans seven decades, and he is particularly famous for his interpretations of mozart. As alfred brendel celebrates his 80th birthday on 5 january 2011, decca is marking this momentous occasion with four major catalogue releases. Alfred brendel kbe is an austrian pianist, poet, and author. Oct 27, 2016 alfred brendel is a pianist and the author of several books of essays and poetry, most recently music, sense and nonsense.
Brendel is a preeminent thinking pianist, a loner to whom fame came through the power of imaginative. The set is accompanied by a 200page book featuring a note by brendel s personal choice of writer, misha donat. Its difficult to think of any other living figure who could have produced a book like this. His musicmaking balanced intellectual rigour with great. Alfred brendel, one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, is also a great writer. Music, sense and nonsense by alfred brendel overdrive. The financial times and its journalism are subject to a selfregulation. He has also recorded works by mozart, liszt, brahms, schumann and schubert. Dec 01, 2000 alfred brendel is known for his recordings, international concert appearances, and writings. Complete for the first time includes live recordings and radio this 114 cd edition encompasses his complete discography for philips and decca and includes studio albums, live recordings and radio broadcasts. Alfred brendel reflects on beethoven, schubert, liszt, and busoni, composers whose works figured prominently into his own repertoire as a pianist. Renowned for his masterly interpretations of the works of haydn, mozart, beethoven, schubert, brahms, schumann and liszt, he is one of the indisputable authorities in musical life today.
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