Alfred Brendel

[camstrings]

Just heard he is 80 today! Happy birthday
He was certainly a great influence for listeners. In my case his Schubert sonatas initiated an exploration of this composer that still continues.
How has he influenced others, I wonder?

[ahinton]

Just heard he is 80 today! Happy birthday

5 January was clearly quite a day for pianists, since Brendel shares it with Medtner, Michelangeli and Pollini! (it also happens to be the birthday of the composer Roslavets, although he was a violinist rather than a pianist).

Best,

Alistair

[mnmleung]

I read his book Musical Thoughts and Afterthoughts about 20 years ago and I definitely found it stimulating then.  I no longer had the book when I went to university and years later, I bought his Alfred Brendel on Music, which I read on and off.  I enjoy it, and again it gets me looking afresh at music I thought I "knew".

[ahinton]

I read his book Musical Thoughts and Afterthoughts about 20 years ago and I definitely found it stimulating then.  I no longer had the book when I went to university and years later, I bought his Alfred Brendel on Music, which I read on and off.  I enjoy it, and again it gets me looking afresh at music I thought I "knew".

Forgive me for saying so (and I know that, with many, I will need a load of such forgiveness whether or not I can get it), I happen to think that Alfred Brendel's writings are of considerably more interest than most of his playing; I am not speaking here of his poetry, with which I am largely unfamiliar, but of the works which you mention here that really are well worthy of attention.

Best,

Alistair

[omar_roy]

Forgive me for saying so (and I know that, with many, I will need a load of such forgiveness whether or not I can get it), I happen to think that Alfred Brendel's writings are of considerably more interest than most of his playing; I am not speaking here of his poetry, with which I am largely unfamiliar, but of the works which you mention here that really are well worthy of attention.

Best,

Alistair

No need to ask for forgiveness.  Several critics have described his playing as "pedantic" or "boring."  Some like to call it "cerebral," whatever that means.

I am a big fan of his, and I've even met the man.  However, I still find a few of his interpretations a bit lacking.

His poetry is rather entertaining, I suggest you take a look at it.  Some of it can be heard in the documentary "Alfred Brendel: Man and Mask."  It's available on youtube in several parts.

[camstrings]

Thanks for the replies. There is also a very recent Brendel interview on the BBC website: Brendel Poetic Pianist.
My memories of two recitals in Bristol and Bath are quite strong.. Playing Haydn, Mozart sonatas & variations by Liszt, Mendelssohn & Brahms, there was authority & humour(Haydn) in the playing, with a strong sense of structure It all makes sense, given his learned approach. which is akin to that of Rosen & Gould.
"Pedantic" and "boring" are unhelpful words to describe any concert pianist, but cerebral might be a positive .   

[unautrehomme]

Happy Birthday Alfred! He was certainly a big influence on me in my student days. I owned the Vox Box set of his complete Beethoven in the 1970s and his recordings were instrumental in introducing me to the Beethoven sonatas.

Yes, his playing can be rather turgid, but on balance I found him to be an adept interpreter. I have since found other performers whom I regard more highly but that is all part of the enjoyment of these works, the huge range of performance interpretation one encounters.

He had that egghead, scholarly reputation since he came on the scene. I suppose it's fitting.

[john11inc]

Brendull.

[camstrings]

He had that egghead, scholarly reputation since he came on the scene. I suppose it's fitting.
[/quote]
Watching the documentary about his career makes one realise that there is much more to A,B. than just this.
As for "Brendull", we need to celebrate what every concert pianist contributes to our artistic heritage & especially those who educate us in the process.

[birba]

He had that egghead, scholarly reputation since he came on the scene. I suppose it's fitting.

Watching the documentary about his career makes one realise that there is much more to A,B. than just this.
As for "Brendull", we need to celebrate what every concert pianist contributes to our artistic heritage & especially those who educate us in the process.

Hear hear!  Finally someone with a little sense to his words.

[farg]

Is it bad that any pianist capable of scholarly output is branded a cerebral egghead?

[camstrings]

"Cerebral" or "egghead" would suffice, i think.
It's just a bit limiting as a description for a creative and recreative writer and musician.

[ahinton]

As for "Brendull", we need to celebrate what every concert pianist contributes to our artistic heritage & especially those who educate us in the process.

(He will perhaps) correct me if I'm wrong, but I rather suspect that john11inch's reference here was specifically to his and some others' opinion of Alfred Brendel's piano playing rather than to his entire artistic legacy to date.

Best,

Alistair

[sevencircles]

Just heard he is 80 today! Happy birthday
He was certainly a great influence for listeners. In my case his Schubert sonatas initiated an exploration of this composer that still continues.
How has he influenced others, I wonder?

Brendel is great and he has worked really hard.

He is a bad sightreader, can´t learn by ear and has got bad memory

He is an inspiration for mortal people   

[john11inc]

As for "Brendull", we need to celebrate what every concert pianist contributes to our artistic heritage & especially those who educate us in the process.

Like Lang Lang.



And comme.

[camstrings]

Lang Lang's presentation of Chinese folk music (Dragon Songs) seems a worthwhile project, even if not to everyone's taste.