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Gerhard Kastner was a renowned classical music artist who was born on May 12, 1955, in Vienna, Austria. He was the youngest of three children born to a family of musicians. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. From a young age, Kastner was exposed to classical music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Kastner's talent for music was evident from an early age, and he began formal training at the Vienna Conservatory at the age of six. He studied under some of the most renowned music teachers in Austria, including Friedrich Gulda and Martha Argerich. Kastner's dedication to his craft was evident, and he quickly became known for his technical proficiency and musicality. Kastner's career as a classical music artist began in earnest in the 1970s. He made his debut as a soloist with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in 1972, performing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21. The performance was a resounding success, and Kastner quickly became known as one of the most promising young pianists of his generation. Over the next few years, Kastner continued to perform with some of the world's most prestigious orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra. He also began recording his performances, and his recordings of works by Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin quickly became bestsellers. Kastner's career reached new heights in the 1980s. In 1982, he was awarded the prestigious International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, becoming the first Austrian pianist to win the competition. The win cemented Kastner's reputation as one of the world's leading classical music artists. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Kastner continued to perform and record extensively. He also began to branch out into other areas of classical music, including conducting and composing. In 1995, he conducted the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, which was broadcast live on television to an audience of millions. Kastner's career was not without its challenges, however. In the late 1990s, he suffered a serious injury to his right hand, which threatened to end his career as a pianist. Kastner refused to give up, however, and underwent extensive rehabilitation to regain his ability to play. He returned to the stage in 2001, performing a sold-out concert at the Vienna State Opera. Kastner's dedication to his craft and his contributions to classical music were recognized with numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In addition to the International Tchaikovsky Competition, he was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art in 1992 and the Grand Decoration of Honor in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria in 2005. Kastner's legacy as a classical music artist continues to be felt today. His recordings and performances remain popular with classical music enthusiasts around the world, and his influence on the genre is still felt by musicians and audiences alike. He passed away on June 15, 2018, at the age of 63, but his contributions to classical music will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.

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