Friedrich Gulda was an Austrian pianist and composer (born May 16, 1930, Vienna, Austria—died Jan. 27, 2000, Weissenbach, Austria). He was noted for his renditions of the classical repertoire (including Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, and Debussy), his improvisatory jazz interpretations, and his eccentricities, which included jazz improvisations in the middle of classical pieces and the release in March 1999 of his own obituary.
To me, he seemed like an amazing technician, and a person who wanted to pave his own way, rather than do what others expected him to do. As an example, he dressed in his own style, rather than appear in a black tux for his concerts.
Here is Mr. Gulda, performing the Piano Concerto K537 by Mozart:
