Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

Austria

Birth

:

April 17, 1882 in Lipnik, Austria

Death

:

August 15, 1951 in Axenstein, Switzerland

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Concerto

 

Artur Schnabel was a renowned classical pianist and composer who was born on April 17, 1882, in Lipnik, Austria-Hungary (now part of the Czech Republic). He was the youngest of three children born to Isidor Schnabel, a textile merchant, and his wife, Ernestine Taussig Schnabel. Artur showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Schnabel's family moved to Vienna when he was six years old, and he began studying piano with Theodor Leschetizky, a renowned piano teacher. Schnabel made his public debut at the age of 11, playing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major with the Vienna Court Orchestra. He continued his studies with Leschetizky until he was 17, when he began studying composition with Arnold Schoenberg. In 1900, Schnabel made his debut as a soloist with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major. He quickly gained a reputation as a virtuoso pianist and became known for his interpretations of Beethoven's piano sonatas. In 1905, he made his first recording of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53, also known as the "Waldstein" Sonata. Schnabel's career took off in the 1920s and 1930s, when he began touring extensively throughout Europe and the United States. He was known for his intense and emotional performances, and his interpretations of Beethoven's piano sonatas were considered groundbreaking. He also performed works by other composers, including Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, and Debussy. In addition to his performing career, Schnabel was also a composer. He wrote several works for piano, including a piano concerto, a sonata, and a set of variations. He also wrote chamber music and songs. Schnabel's career was interrupted by World War II, and he and his family fled to the United States in 1939. He continued to perform and teach in the United States, and he became a naturalized citizen in 1944. He taught at the University of Michigan and the University of Southern California, and he also gave master classes at the Juilliard School in New York City. Schnabel's recordings of Beethoven's piano sonatas are considered some of the most important recordings of the 20th century. He recorded the complete cycle of 32 sonatas three times, in 1932-1935, 1942-1948, and 1950-1951. His recordings are known for their clarity, precision, and emotional depth. Schnabel received many honors and awards throughout his career. In 1933, he was awarded the Goethe Medal by the German government for his contributions to German culture. He was also awarded the Légion d'honneur by the French government in 1937. In 1951, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Artur Schnabel died on August 15, 1951, in Axenstein, Switzerland, at the age of 69. He is remembered as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, and his recordings of Beethoven's piano sonatas continue to be admired and studied by musicians and music lovers around the world.

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