Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Birth

:

November 26, 1915 in Pittsburgh, PA

Death

:

January 23, 2010 in Palm Springs, CA

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

Earl Wild was an American pianist and composer who was born on November 26, 1915, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of seven children and showed an early interest in music. His mother was a pianist and his father was a violinist, so music was a part of his life from an early age. Wild began taking piano lessons at the age of four and showed a natural talent for the instrument. He gave his first public performance at the age of six and continued to perform throughout his childhood. He studied at the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh and later at the Juilliard School in New York City. Wild's career as a concert pianist began in the 1930s, and he quickly gained a reputation as one of the most talented pianists of his generation. He made his debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 1937 and went on to perform with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. Wild was known for his virtuosic playing and his ability to interpret a wide range of musical styles. He was particularly renowned for his performances of the music of Franz Liszt, and he was considered one of the greatest interpreters of Liszt's music of his time. He also performed the works of many other composers, including Beethoven, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff. In addition to his career as a concert pianist, Wild was also a composer. He wrote a number of works for piano, including sonatas, concertos, and solo pieces. His compositions were influenced by a wide range of musical styles, including jazz and popular music. Throughout his career, Wild received many awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1998, and he was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 2003. He also received numerous honorary degrees from universities around the world. One of the highlights of Wild's career was his performance at the White House for President John F. Kennedy in 1962. He played a program of classical music, including works by Beethoven, Chopin, and Liszt, and received a standing ovation from the audience. Another notable performance by Wild was his appearance at the 1986 Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. He was the oldest competitor in the competition, but he impressed the judges and the audience with his virtuosic playing and his interpretation of Tchaikovsky's music. He was awarded a special prize for his performance. Wild continued to perform and compose music well into his 90s. He died on January 23, 2010, at the age of 94. His legacy as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century lives on through his recordings and the many musicians he inspired.

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