Formed

:

November 15, 1914 in Havana, Cuba

Disband

:

October 16, 1990 in Mountain View, CA

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

Jorge Bolet was a Cuban-American pianist who was born on November 15, 1914, in Havana, Cuba. He was the youngest of three children and was raised in a musical family. His father was a physician who played the piano as a hobby, and his mother was a singer who performed in local operas. Bolet began playing the piano at the age of three and showed a natural talent for the instrument. Bolet's family moved to New York City when he was nine years old, and he continued his piano studies with Leopold Godowsky, a renowned pianist and composer. Bolet made his debut at Carnegie Hall at the age of 18, playing Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the New York Philharmonic. He then went on to study with Josef Hofmann at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Bolet's career as a concert pianist began in the 1930s, and he quickly gained a reputation as a virtuoso performer. He made his European debut in 1937, playing with the Berlin Philharmonic under the baton of Wilhelm Furtwängler. He also performed with other major orchestras, including the London Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Bolet's repertoire was vast, and he was known for his interpretations of the works of Chopin, Liszt, and Rachmaninoff. He was also a champion of lesser-known composers, such as Granados and Albeniz. Bolet's playing was characterized by his technical brilliance, his sensitivity to the nuances of the music, and his ability to convey the emotional depth of the pieces he played. One of Bolet's most memorable performances was his 1974 recital at Carnegie Hall, which was recorded and released as an album. The program included works by Chopin, Liszt, and Debussy, as well as pieces by lesser-known composers such as Gottschalk and Moszkowski. The album received critical acclaim and is still considered one of Bolet's finest recordings. Bolet was also a respected teacher, and he taught at the Curtis Institute of Music, the Juilliard School, and the New England Conservatory of Music. His students included pianists such as Garrick Ohlsson and Kun-Woo Paik. Bolet received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In 1952, he was awarded the Harriet Cohen International Music Award, and in 1977, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Philharmonic Society. He was also awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. Bolet continued to perform and record into his 80s, and he remained an influential figure in the world of classical music until his death on October 16, 1990, in Mountain View, California. He was 75 years old. In conclusion, Jorge Bolet was a pianist of extraordinary talent and skill, whose performances and recordings continue to inspire and captivate audiences today. His legacy as a performer and teacher has had a lasting impact on the world of classical music, and he will always be remembered as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.

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