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Alfons Kontarsky was a German classical pianist and conductor, born on October 24, 1932, in Iserlohn, Germany. He was the younger brother of Aloys Kontarsky, who was also a renowned pianist and conductor. Alfons Kontarsky was known for his exceptional talent and his unique approach to classical music. Kontarsky began his musical training at a young age, studying piano with his mother, who was a piano teacher. He later studied at the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen, Germany, where he was a student of the renowned pianist and composer, Carl Seemann. Kontarsky also studied with the pianist and conductor, Wilhelm Kempff, who was a major influence on his musical style. In 1955, Kontarsky made his debut as a soloist with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, performing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major. This performance marked the beginning of his career as a soloist and conductor. Over the years, Kontarsky performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Vienna Philharmonic. Kontarsky was known for his interpretations of contemporary music, and he worked closely with many of the leading composers of his time, including Karlheinz Stockhausen, Pierre Boulez, and György Ligeti. He premiered many new works, including Stockhausen's "Kontakte" and Boulez's "Pli selon pli." In addition to his work as a soloist and conductor, Kontarsky was also a member of the Kontarsky Piano Duo, which he formed with his brother Aloys in 1965. The duo was known for their performances of contemporary music, and they premiered many new works for two pianos. They also recorded extensively, including a complete cycle of the piano music of Igor Stravinsky. Kontarsky was the recipient of many awards and honors throughout his career. In 1966, he was awarded the Prix Italia for his recording of Stockhausen's "Kontakte." He was also awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1982, and the Order of Merit of North Rhine-Westphalia in 1992. Kontarsky continued to perform and record throughout his career, and he remained active as a conductor and teacher until his death on January 10, 2010, in Cologne, Germany. He was remembered as a pioneering musician who pushed the boundaries of classical music and inspired generations of musicians to come.

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