Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

March 23, 1881 in Hanover, Germany

Death

:

May 27, 1962 in Berkeley, CA

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

Egon Petri was a renowned classical pianist and teacher who was born on March 23, 1881, in Hanover, Germany. He was the son of a Dutch father and a German mother, and his family was musically inclined. Petri's father was a cellist, and his mother was a pianist. Petri began playing the piano at a young age and showed great promise as a musician. Petri's family moved to Utrecht, Netherlands, when he was six years old, and he continued his musical education there. He studied with several prominent teachers, including Julius Röntgen and Carl Friedberg. Petri made his debut as a pianist at the age of 12, performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Utrecht Symphony Orchestra. In 1901, Petri moved to Frankfurt to study with Clara Schumann, the widow of Robert Schumann. He also studied with Ferruccio Busoni, who became a major influence on his musical style. Petri's performances during this time were well-received, and he began to establish himself as a prominent pianist. Petri's career took off in the 1910s and 1920s, when he began performing extensively throughout Europe and the United States. He was known for his virtuosic playing and his interpretations of the works of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. Petri was also a composer and arranger, and he often performed his own works alongside those of other composers. One of Petri's most notable performances was his 1923 debut at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He performed a program of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, and the concert was a critical and commercial success. Petri continued to perform at Carnegie Hall throughout his career, and he became known as one of the hall's most distinguished performers. Petri was also a dedicated teacher, and he taught at several institutions throughout his career. He taught at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin from 1923 to 1933, and he later taught at the University of California, Berkeley, from 1939 to 1959. Petri's students included several notable pianists, including Earl Wild and John Ogdon. In addition to his performing and teaching career, Petri was also a prolific recording artist. He made his first recordings in 1929, and he continued to record throughout his career. His recordings of Bach's Goldberg Variations and Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 32 are considered to be some of the finest recordings of these works. Petri received several awards and honors throughout his career. In 1951, he was awarded the Order of Orange-Nassau by the Dutch government for his contributions to music. He was also awarded honorary doctorates from several universities, including the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Utrecht. Petri continued to perform and teach until his death on May 27, 1962, in Berkeley, California. He was 81 years old. Petri's legacy as a pianist and teacher continues to be celebrated today, and his recordings and performances are still admired by classical music enthusiasts around the world.

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