Pianist Radu Lupu died a few weeks ago. He was a renowned interpreter of the Austro-German school of composers, which includes Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, and Johannes Brahms, among others.
The Romanian-born pianist, who lived in London, was an esteemed guest performer with orchestras across Europe and North America. A critic for London’s Independent newspaper, Adrian Jack, deemed him “one of the ‘great’ pianists of our time in some of the greatest music of all time.
To Beethoven, Schubert, and Brahms he brought a depth and seriousness, a sense of infinity, that makes other pianists–even some fine ones–seem shallow and inexperienced by comparison.”
Lupu was born on November 30, 1945 in Romania, and he began studying piano at the age of six. His debut came just six years later, when he performed several works that he had composed himself.
Lupu won a trio of prestigious international competitions during the 1960s, beginning with first prize at the Van Cliburn Competition in Texas in 1966. “I just did not expect it at all,” he told the New York Times, and admitted with some relief that the Van Cliburn challenge had concluded.
Here is Radu Lupu to play the music of Schubert for you:
