The Sound Board

One of the great pianists of our and any other age, Alfred Brendel, has passed away, aged 94. Not only a pianist, but also a poet, author, lecturer, teacher, mentor, composer and much appreciated as well for his witty, warm and kind personality.

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From The Guardian:

Widely regarded by colleagues as the “musicians’ musician” as well as the “pianists’ mentor”, he devoted a significant part of his time to sharing his experiences as a musician with younger artists.

Paul Lewis: “Alfred Brendel was my guide, mentor and an endless source of inspiration for more than 30 years, and his passing is an enormous loss not only for music, but on a personal level for those of us who were fortunate enough to be guided and touched by his wisdom and insight, of which he gave so generously and selflessly.”
Imogen Cooper: “He was unique in the pantheon of great pianists – inspirational and uncompromising, with a formidable knowledge of literature and art as well as of music. His playing was intense and visionary, his teaching no less so – but dry humour was never far.”

“I don’t feel guilty about being ‘intellectual’ if that means thinking about the structure and character and humour in a piece of music,” Brendel told The Guardian in 2010 on the occasion of receiving Gramophone magazine’s Lifetime Achievement award. “But I’m not talking about dry analysis, which is relatively easy if you know how. I do the opposite. I familiarise myself with a piece and wait for it to tell me what it’s about, and what makes it a masterpiece. That’s what fascinates.”

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Alfred Brendel is also the pianist in my all-time favourite recording of the Brahms' 2nd Piano Concerto — very high on my list of favourite compositions for piano and orchestra — with the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Claudio Abbado.




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One simply cannot talk about Alfred Brendel without talking about Franz Schubert! Especially his 7 CDs recording from 1988: Schubert Piano Works 1822-1828. There is this, then there is a long time nothing, and then there are other interpretations. Simple as that.

Amazing pianist and personal.

He was one of the great pianists of our time. I met him in person about fifteen years ago, when he gave a lecture at my university. I was tasked with picking him up from the airport and keeping him company for the afternoon. Although he had retired from performing by then, even the short excerpts he played during his lecture to illustrate a point demonstrated his pure magic at the instrument. It was a truly memorable experience.

Piet De Ridder wrote: ↑Jun 17, 2025 9:42 pm One of the great pianists of our and any other age, Alfred Brendel, has passed away, aged 94. Not only a pianist, but also a poet, author, lecturer, teacher, mentor, composer and much appreciated as well for his witty, warm and kind personality.

I couldn’t have put it better myself, Piet. I feel like his relationship with music was like his relationships with people, very engaging, thoughtful, and affectionate. I was never lucky enough to meet him, but that’s my impression from afar.

Another great gone. This has been a sad month.

Alfred Brendel, RIP.

Best,

Geoff