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Alfred Brendel, Austrian pianist famous for his playing of Beethoven, dies at 94
Renowned Austrian pianist, Alfred Brendel, died at the age of 94 on Tuesday at his home in London. His spokesman, Thomas Hull, confirmed the news to AFP. Brendel was one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century and was known for his refined playing of Beethoven. His career spanned over six decades."He died surrounded by his loved ones," said his spokesman to the news was born in the Czech Republic and gave his first recital in Austria when he was just 17. In a throwback interview, he said, "I grew up in a family that was not musically inclined, not artistically inclined and not intellectual, so I had to find out a lot of things for myself."
"I was a young person who, in the early 20s, did not think I have to achieve something within five years but I thought I would like to be able to do certain things when I'm 50. And when I was 50 I said to myself I have actually done most of the things I want to do," he final concert was in 2008 with the Vienna Philharmonic at the from his interpretations of Mozart, Schubert, Liszt and Haydn, he also recorded and played the 32 Beethoven piano sonatas three times across cities in Brendel was born on January 5, 1931, in Wisenberg, Northern Moravia. He grew up learning piano in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, Graz Conservatory and Artur Michl. During World War II, he and his mother fled their home after the Russian army's 1971, he lived in London. He received 10 Grammy nominations. However, he hadn't won any. He also wrote several books and poems, apart from being a pianist.
