The celebrated pianist, writer, and lecturer Alfred Brendel died on 17 June 2025 at the age of 94 at his home in London. Widely regarded as one of the most influential interpreters of the classical repertoire, he was particularly known for his performances of Mozart, Schubert, and Beethoven.
Born on 5 January 1931 in Wizemberk, then part of Czechoslovakia, Brendel moved across several European cities in his youth, beginning piano lessons in Zagreb at the age of six and later studying in Graz, Austria. He gave his first public recital at 17, titled The Fugue in Piano Literature, and soon began building an international career, performing across Europe and Latin America and taking part in masterclasses with Paul Baumgartner, Eduard Steuermann, and Edwin Fischer.
Brendel made his first recording in 1950, featuring Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 5, and in 1952 recorded the world premiere of Liszt’s Weihnachtsbaum. He later became the first pianist to record the complete solo piano works of Beethoven, releasing three full sets of the sonatas. His discography also includes numerous recordings of Schubert, Mozart, Liszt, Brahms, and Schumann.
He had close collaborations with leading orchestras such as the Vienna and Berlin Philharmonics, and performed regularly with major ensembles across Europe, the United States, Latin America, Japan, and Australia. He was an honorary member of the Vienna Philharmonic and received the Hans von Bülow Medal from the Berlin Philharmonic.
Known for his cerebral and thoughtful approach, Brendel insisted on fidelity to the composer’s intentions: “I am responsible to the composer, and particularly to the piece.” While he played little Chopin, he considered the Preludes to be “the most glorious achievement in piano music after Beethoven and Schubert.”
Throughout his life, Brendel also wrote essays, gave lectures, and mentored several pianists including Paul Lewis, Till Fellner, and Kit Armstrong. He frequently gave Lieder recitals with Hermann Prey, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, and Matthias Goerne, and collaborated with his son, cellist Adrian Brendel.
In 2007, Brendel announced his retirement. His final concert in Vienna took place on 18 December 2008, with the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras, featuring Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 9.
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