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.
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 · 5h 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.
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).
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://geocities.restorativland.org/Vienna/2192/essays4.htm...
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
how had I not heard this versions? thanks
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.
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.
https://alfredbrendel.com/
https://www.bruceduffie.com/brendel2.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03h7grg
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-alfre...
[1] https://www.pianistdiscography.com/discography/pianistLabel....