Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

Germany

Birth

:

November 5, 1895 in Lyon, France

Death

:

October 26, 1956 in London, England

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

Walter Gieseking was a German pianist and composer who was born on November 5, 1895, in Lyon, France. His father was a German businessman, and his mother was a French woman. Gieseking showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. He received his first piano lessons from his mother, who was a pianist herself. In 1901, Gieseking's family moved to Hanover, Germany, where he continued his piano studies with Karl Leimer. Leimer was a strict teacher who emphasized technique and discipline, and Gieseking quickly became a skilled pianist under his tutelage. In 1911, Gieseking made his public debut as a pianist, performing a Mozart concerto with the Hanover Orchestra. Gieseking continued his studies at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin, where he studied with Martin Krause, a former student of Franz Liszt. Krause was a major influence on Gieseking's playing, and he encouraged him to develop a more individualistic style. Gieseking also studied composition with Paul Juon and Ferruccio Busoni. In 1916, Gieseking was drafted into the German army and served as a radio operator during World War I. After the war, he resumed his music studies and began performing in concerts throughout Europe. In 1920, he won first prize in the International Piano Competition in Vienna, which launched his career as a concert pianist. Gieseking quickly gained a reputation as one of the leading pianists of his generation. He was known for his technical brilliance, his sensitive interpretations of classical music, and his ability to play with great clarity and precision. He was particularly admired for his performances of the music of Mozart, Beethoven, and Debussy. In 1923, Gieseking made his first recording, which was of Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata. He went on to make many more recordings throughout his career, including complete sets of the piano music of Debussy and Ravel. His recordings are still highly regarded today for their clarity and precision. Gieseking's career took him all over the world, and he performed in many of the major concert halls of Europe and the United States. He was particularly popular in France, where he was admired for his performances of French music. He also performed in Japan, where he was one of the first Western musicians to visit after World War II. Gieseking was known for his perfectionism and his demanding rehearsal schedule. He would often spend hours practicing and rehearsing before a performance, and he was known to cancel concerts if he did not feel fully prepared. He was also known for his eccentricities, such as his habit of wearing a white suit and gloves when he performed. Despite his success as a pianist, Gieseking was also a controversial figure. He was accused of being a Nazi sympathizer during World War II, and he was briefly detained by the Allied authorities after the war. However, he was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing, and he continued to perform and record until his death in 1956. Gieseking's legacy as a pianist and composer is still felt today. His recordings are still highly regarded, and his interpretations of classical music continue to influence pianists around the world. He was a major figure in the development of modern piano technique, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of musicians.

More....