Period

:

Classical

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

Robert Fizdale was an American classical pianist and author, born on April 12, 1920, in Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of a successful businessman and a talented pianist mother. Fizdale began playing the piano at the age of four and showed exceptional talent from an early age. He studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he was a student of Rudolf Serkin and Mieczyslaw Horszowski. Fizdale made his debut as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1940, playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4. He quickly gained a reputation as a virtuoso pianist and performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe. He was particularly known for his interpretations of the music of Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert. In addition to his career as a performer, Fizdale was also a prolific author. He wrote several books on music, including "The Twentieth-Century Piano Sonata" and "Arthur Rubinstein: A Life." He was also a frequent contributor to music journals and magazines. One of the highlights of Fizdale's career was his collaboration with the composer and pianist Ned Rorem. The two men met in the early 1950s and became close friends and musical collaborators. They performed together frequently, and Fizdale premiered several of Rorem's piano works. Fizdale was also known for his work as a chamber musician. He frequently performed with the cellist Bernard Greenhouse, and the two men recorded several albums together. Fizdale was also a member of the Bach Aria Group, a chamber ensemble that specialized in the music of J.S. Bach. Throughout his career, Fizdale received numerous awards and honors. In 1951, he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study in Paris. He was also the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1954. In 1961, he was awarded the Harriet Cohen International Music Award for his contributions to the world of music. Fizdale's career was cut short by his untimely death in 1995. He died of complications from AIDS at the age of 75. However, his legacy as a performer, author, and advocate for classical music lives on. He was a passionate and dedicated musician who inspired countless others with his artistry and his love of music.

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