Austrian pianist Alfred Brendel dies at 94

Austrian pianist Alfred Brendel , considered one of the most prominent figures in 20th-century classical music, died Tuesday in London at the age of 94. Brendel was internationally admired for his profound and meticulous interpretations of composers such as Beethoven and Schubert.

Born on January 5, 1931, in Wiesenberg, North Moravia (now part of the Czech Republic), he spent his childhood between Yugoslavia and Austria. After World War II, his family settled in Graz, where he began his musical training at the local conservatory.

Brendel began his piano studies at the age of six. Modest and reserved, he was also known for his sharp self-criticism . International acclaim came late, following a 1971 London concert that he himself ironically described as "boring." That recital, however, attracted the attention of the Philips record label, with which he signed a contract that marked the beginning of a brilliant musical career.

From then on, he settled in London, where he resided for over half a century. There, in 1989, he received the title of Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth II. In the British capital, he gave numerous recitals and collaborated with great conductors, such as the British Simon Rattle. His extensive and deeply studied repertoire was marked by a special dedication to Beethoven, whom he considered his greatest inspiration. Between 1982 and 1983, he undertook a historic tour with 77 recitals in eleven musical capitals of Europe and the United States, in which he performed all 32 of the German composer's piano sonatas. He is also the author of books, essays, and works of fiction.

“We're living in a golden age for violinists, not so much for pianists,” he complained in his last interview with this newspaper, in 2016, after eight years of retirement. “To get to the heart of what a pianist is capable of, it's better to wait until I'm between forty and sixty,” he explained at the time about the art of the piano. The interview took place when President Donald Trump had been elected for the first time, although he had not yet taken office. “With Trump, the feeling is that I'm in the wrong world, that I no longer belong,” he said at the time, when he was 85 years old and had survived World War II and Nazism. Current populisms brought back strange memories, and the world still seemed like an absurd place. “But it's easier to survive in it if we can laugh.”

In addition to Beethoven, Brendel was instrumental in revaluing the piano repertoire of Franz Schubert, of whom he came to be considered one of the most influential interpreters. In later years, he also devoted himself intensely to Mozart sonatas. His retirement from the stage came in December 2008 , with a moving concert in Vienna. When asked what he would miss, he replied without hesitation: "The adrenaline." He humorously added that, "despite all those annoying coughs, cell phones, and ringing hearing aids," he would also miss the audience.