Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

September 20, 1922 in New York City, NY

Death

:

October 29, 1953 in King's Mountain, CA

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

William Kapell was an American pianist who was born on September 20, 1922, in New York City. He was the youngest of three children born to parents who were both musicians. His father, Abraham Kapell, was a violinist, and his mother, Rebecca Kaplan, was a pianist. William Kapell showed an early interest in music and began taking piano lessons at the age of six. Kapell's talent was evident from an early age, and he quickly became known as a prodigy. He made his debut performance at the age of nine, playing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor with the New York Philharmonic. He continued to perform throughout his childhood and teenage years, and by the time he was in his early twenties, he was already considered one of the most promising young pianists of his generation. In 1941, Kapell enrolled at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, where he studied with the renowned pianist and teacher Olga Samaroff. He also studied with the pianist and composer Ernest Bloch, who had a profound influence on his musical development. Kapell's studies at Juilliard were interrupted by World War II, and he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943. During his time in the Army, Kapell continued to perform, giving concerts for troops stationed in Europe. He also played for General George S. Patton, who was so impressed with his playing that he arranged for him to give a concert in Paris. Kapell's wartime experiences had a profound impact on him, and he later said that they had taught him the value of life and the importance of music in bringing people together. After the war, Kapell resumed his studies at Juilliard and began to establish himself as a major concert pianist. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1947, playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with the NBC Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Arturo Toscanini. The performance was a huge success, and Kapell was hailed as a rising star in the classical music world. Over the next few years, Kapell continued to perform extensively, both in the United States and abroad. He played with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He also made several recordings, including a highly acclaimed performance of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 with the NBC Symphony Orchestra. In 1953, Kapell embarked on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, which was to be his last. On October 29, 1953, he was killed in a plane crash while traveling from San Francisco to Australia. He was just 31 years old. Kapell's death was a great loss to the classical music world, and many mourned the passing of such a talented and promising young artist. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of pianists. Despite his short career, Kapell left behind a rich legacy of recordings and performances that continue to be admired and studied by musicians and music lovers around the world. His playing was characterized by a technical brilliance and a deep emotional intensity that made him one of the most compelling interpreters of his time. His recordings of works by composers such as Beethoven, Brahms, and Rachmaninoff are still considered among the finest ever made, and his influence can be heard in the playing of many of today's leading pianists.

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