Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Vocal

 

Lee Luvisi was an American classical pianist who was born on August 18, 1939, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Italian immigrants and grew up in a musical family. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. Luvisi started playing the piano at the age of four and showed exceptional talent from an early age. Luvisi received his early musical training from his mother and later studied with renowned pianists such as Rudolf Serkin, Mieczyslaw Horszowski, and Rosina Lhevinne. He also attended the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied with Rudolf Serkin and Mieczyslaw Horszowski. In 1960, Luvisi won the prestigious Leventritt Competition, which launched his career as a concert pianist. He made his debut with the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Leonard Bernstein and went on to perform with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic. Luvisi was known for his virtuosic technique and his ability to bring out the emotional depth of the music he played. He was particularly admired for his interpretations of the works of Beethoven, Schubert, and Brahms. He was also a champion of contemporary music and premiered works by composers such as George Rochberg, Milton Babbitt, and Leon Kirchner. In addition to his solo career, Luvisi was a sought-after chamber musician and collaborated with many of the world's leading instrumentalists and vocalists. He was a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and performed regularly at the Marlboro Music Festival. Luvisi recorded extensively throughout his career, and his recordings received critical acclaim. He recorded the complete piano sonatas of Beethoven, Schubert, and Brahms, as well as works by Chopin, Liszt, and Debussy. He also recorded contemporary works by Rochberg, Babbitt, and Kirchner. Luvisi was the recipient of many awards and honors throughout his career. In addition to winning the Leventritt Competition, he was awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant in 1975 and was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 2003. Despite his success as a performer, Luvisi was known for his humility and his dedication to teaching. He was a professor of piano at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, from 1977 until his retirement in 2004. He was also a visiting professor at the Juilliard School and the New England Conservatory of Music. Luvisi died on December 22, 2016, at the age of 77. He was remembered by his colleagues and students as a consummate musician and a beloved teacher. His legacy lives on through his recordings and the many musicians he inspired and mentored throughout his career.

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