Birth

:

May 24, 1904

Death

:

September 4, 2002 in Paris, France

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

Vlado Perlemuter was a renowned classical pianist born on May 26, 1904, in Kovno, Lithuania. He was the youngest of six children in a Jewish family. His father was a cantor and a music teacher, and his mother was a pianist. Perlemuter showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. In 1915, Perlemuter's family moved to Paris, where he continued his music education. He studied at the Paris Conservatory with Alfred Cortot, a famous pianist and teacher. Perlemuter was a prodigious student and won several prizes at the conservatory. He also studied with Isidor Philipp, a renowned piano teacher, and composer Maurice Ravel. Perlemuter made his debut as a concert pianist in 1924, playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with the Orchestre Lamoureux in Paris. He quickly gained a reputation as a virtuoso pianist and performed extensively throughout Europe. In 1927, he made his first recording, playing Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major. Perlemuter's career was interrupted by World War II. He was arrested by the Nazis in 1943 and sent to Auschwitz concentration camp. He survived the camp and was liberated by the Allies in 1945. After the war, he resumed his career as a pianist and became a French citizen. Perlemuter was known for his interpretations of the music of Ravel and Debussy. He was considered one of the foremost interpreters of Ravel's music and was a close friend of the composer. He recorded all of Ravel's piano music for the French label Erato in the 1960s. His recordings of Ravel's music are still considered some of the best interpretations of the composer's work. Perlemuter also performed the music of other composers, including Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin. He was known for his technical skill and his ability to bring out the emotional depth of the music he played. He was a frequent performer at major concert halls, including the Royal Albert Hall in London and Carnegie Hall in New York. Perlemuter received several awards and honors during his career. In 1957, he was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque for his recording of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major. In 1974, he was awarded the Legion of Honor, the highest civilian award in France. He was also awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1980. Perlemuter continued to perform and teach until his death on September 4, 2002, in Antibes, France. He was 98 years old. He left behind a legacy as one of the greatest interpreters of Ravel's music and a virtuoso pianist who brought out the emotional depth of the music he played.

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