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Waltraut Gumz was a renowned classical music artist who was born on August 22, 1937, in Berlin, Germany. She was the daughter of a music teacher and grew up in a family that was passionate about music. Her father recognized her talent for music at a young age and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. Gumz began her musical education at the age of six, studying piano and violin. She showed exceptional talent and was soon performing in public concerts. At the age of 14, she won first prize in a national piano competition, which marked the beginning of her professional career. In 1955, Gumz enrolled at the Berlin University of the Arts, where she studied piano under the guidance of Professor Walter Gieseking. She also studied chamber music with Professor Wolfgang Schneiderhan and Professor Pierre Fournier. During her time at the university, Gumz won several awards and scholarships, including the prestigious Mendelssohn Scholarship. After completing her studies, Gumz began performing extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States. She quickly gained a reputation as a virtuoso pianist and was praised for her technical skill and musical interpretation. Her performances were characterized by a deep emotional intensity and a profound understanding of the music she played. Gumz's repertoire was vast and included works by some of the greatest composers in history, such as Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, and Schumann. She was particularly known for her interpretations of the works of Brahms, whose music she had a deep affinity for. Throughout her career, Gumz performed with some of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic. She also collaborated with many renowned conductors, such as Herbert von Karajan, Leonard Bernstein, and Claudio Abbado. One of the highlights of Gumz's career was her performance of Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Berlin Philharmonic under the baton of Herbert von Karajan. The performance was widely acclaimed and cemented Gumz's reputation as one of the greatest interpreters of Brahms' music. Gumz also had a successful career as a recording artist. She recorded extensively for Deutsche Grammophon, one of the world's leading classical music labels. Her recordings of Brahms' piano works are considered some of the finest interpretations of the composer's music. In addition to her performing and recording career, Gumz was also a respected music educator. She taught at the Berlin University of the Arts and the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin. Many of her students went on to have successful careers in music. Gumz received numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In 1987, she was awarded the Order of Merit of Berlin, one of the highest honors bestowed by the city of Berlin. She was also awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1997. Gumz continued to perform and teach until her retirement in 2002. She passed away on December 28, 2017, at the age of 80. Her legacy as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century lives on through her recordings and the many students she taught over the course of her career.

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