Concert-level Late starters

[pabst]

Hey all, was just wondering which pianists do you know that started late (i would say 14 years old and on) and still show great musicianship. Please list here, to sort of buff many people's expectations. I'll start -

Arnaldo Cohen - Brazilian pianist, living and performing in the UK, started music lessons (violin mainly) at age five, but wasn't serious about it. He started getting serious about the piano when he was over 20, and thus dropped out of Engineering School. He has had lessons with Jacques Klein, a pupil of William Kapell. He has been known for his *** attitude torwards people and for the following phrase, said after winning first prize in the Busoni International Competition in 1972 - "But I just had 4 years of lessons". Among his repertoire is the solo version of Totentanz, performed impeccably.

More.

[thierry13]

Volodos Comes to mind. Me if I get up there. <- Don't call that bragging, the ONLY meaning of it is, IF I ever become a concert pianist, I will be a late starter (14 and over). Please, do not begin another fight.

[stevie]

volodos stareted about age 6-8 , around that.

he practiced but piano wasnt his ambition till he was about 15, then he took it really seriously and worked extra hard at it.

[stevie]

hmmm, the harold bauer story is similar to cohen's.

[thierry13]

volodos stareted about age 6-8 , around that.

he practiced but piano wasnt his ambition till he was about 15, then he took it really seriously and worked extra hard at it.

I know that. I still consider him a late starter.

[arensky]

hmmm, the harold bauer story is similar to cohen's.

Yes, Harold Bauer started at age 20; Another is Ivan Davis, whose recordings of the Liszt Concerti and Liapounov's Leghinska are unbelievable He started around the age of 13 or 14.....

[chopiabin]

I think Pletnev started around age 12 (?).

[stevie]

I think Pletnev started around age 12 (?).

hard to believe, ill check it out

[chopiabin]

I'm not sure though, that may have been in some liner notes or something.

[dreamplaying]

A very interesting topic to discuss. Many people are not able to start piano soon, because of multiple constraints, or just they do not realize piano is what they love the most. I do not know any important performer who started late in life, but though I'm not by far a pianist, I do started at 15 and I'm, still  fighting to my dream become true, to be a pianist and achieve the finest performing.