Period

:

Baroque

 

 

Classical

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

Knut Johannesen was a Norwegian classical pianist who was born on August 6, 1930, in Oslo, Norway. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. Johannesen started playing the piano at a young age and showed great talent from the beginning. Johannesen's musical education began at the Oslo Conservatory of Music, where he studied under the tutelage of Einar Steen-Nøkleberg. He later continued his studies in Paris with Marguerite Long and Jacques Février. Johannesen's talent was quickly recognized, and he won several awards and competitions, including the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels in 1952. After his success at the Queen Elisabeth Competition, Johannesen began to perform extensively throughout Europe and the United States. He quickly gained a reputation as one of the most talented pianists of his generation. His performances were characterized by his technical brilliance, his musical sensitivity, and his ability to convey the emotional depth of the music he played. Johannesen's repertoire was vast and included works by many of the great composers, including Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, and Rachmaninoff. He was particularly known for his interpretations of the works of Edvard Grieg, a fellow Norwegian. Johannesen's performances of Grieg's music were considered to be some of the best ever recorded. Throughout his career, Johannesen received numerous awards and honors. In 1962, he was awarded the Norwegian Music Critics' Prize, and in 1970, he was made a Knight of the Order of St. Olav, one of Norway's highest honors. He was also awarded the Grieg Prize in 1982 for his contributions to the promotion of Grieg's music. One of Johannesen's most memorable performances was his 1965 concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The concert was a huge success, and Johannesen received a standing ovation from the audience. The New York Times praised his performance, saying that he had "played with a virtuosity and sensitivity that were truly remarkable." Johannesen continued to perform and record throughout his career, and his recordings remain highly regarded to this day. He recorded many of Grieg's works, as well as works by other composers such as Beethoven, Chopin, and Liszt. His recordings are characterized by his technical brilliance and his ability to convey the emotional depth of the music he played. Johannesen retired from performing in 1990 but continued to teach and mentor young musicians. He was a professor of piano at the Norwegian Academy of Music from 1970 to 1995 and was also a visiting professor at several universities in the United States. Johannesen passed away on October 28, 2016, at the age of 86. He was remembered as one of Norway's greatest pianists and a true ambassador of Norwegian music. His legacy lives on through his recordings and the many musicians he inspired and mentored throughout his career.

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