Birth

:

June 20, 1946 in Nuremberg, Germany

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

André Watts is a renowned classical pianist who has captivated audiences around the world with his virtuosic performances and deep musicality. Born on June 20, 1946, in Nuremberg, Germany, Watts was the son of an African-American soldier and a Hungarian mother. His family moved to the United States when he was eight years old, settling in Philadelphia, where he began his musical studies. Watts showed an early aptitude for the piano, and by the age of nine, he was already performing in public. He studied with several teachers, including Genia Robinor and Leon Fleisher, and made his debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the age of 16, playing Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1. The performance was a sensation, and it launched Watts's career as a soloist. In 1963, Watts was invited to perform at the White House for President John F. Kennedy, and he played at the inauguration of President Lyndon B. Johnson the following year. He also made his debut at Carnegie Hall in 1964, playing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Leonard Bernstein. The performance was a triumph, and it cemented Watts's reputation as one of the most promising young pianists of his generation. Over the next few years, Watts continued to perform with major orchestras around the world, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He also recorded several albums, including a critically acclaimed recording of Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Daniel Barenboim. In 1976, Watts suffered a serious injury to his left hand, which threatened to end his career. He underwent surgery and intensive physical therapy, and after several months of rehabilitation, he was able to return to the concert stage. His comeback performance, playing Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the New York Philharmonic, was a triumph, and it demonstrated his resilience and determination. Watts has continued to perform and record throughout his career, and he has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 1988, he was awarded the Avery Fisher Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in classical music, and he was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 2004. He has also been awarded honorary doctorates from several universities, including Yale, Harvard, and the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to his performing career, Watts has also been a dedicated teacher and mentor to young musicians. He has served on the faculty of several universities, including the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and he has given masterclasses and workshops around the world. Watts's repertoire is wide-ranging, encompassing works by composers from Bach to Barber. He is particularly known for his interpretations of the music of Beethoven, Brahms, and Liszt, and he has recorded several albums devoted to their works. His playing is characterized by its technical brilliance, its emotional depth, and its sense of spontaneity and improvisation. Throughout his career, Watts has remained committed to bringing classical music to a wider audience. He has performed in schools, community centers, and other non-traditional venues, and he has worked to promote music education and appreciation among young people.

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