Claudio Arrau León (February 6, 1903 – June 9, 1991) was a Chilean pianist … Read Full Bio ↴Claudio Arrau León (February 6, 1903 – June 9, 1991) was a Chilean pianist of world fame for his deep interpretations of a vast repertoire spanning from the baroque to 20th-century composers. He is widely considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.
Arrau recorded the complete piano music of Robert Schumann, and edited his works for publication, as well as all Beethoven piano sonatas in Urtext edition. He is also famous for his recordings of Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Liszt, Chopin, Schubert and Debussy, among others. He played with style and passion, with a prodigious technique. Many claimed that his rich, weighty tone lent his interpretations a distinctive voice, some saying it sounded thick and muddy and others praising its rounded tone, saying it sounded as though Arrau were almost playing the organ or "plowing" his "paws" into the "flexible" keyboard. According to American critic Harold Schonberg, Arrau always put "a decidedly romantic piano tone in his interpretations." Although he often played with slower and more deliberate tempi from his middle age, Arrau had a reputation for being a fabulous virtuoso early in his career. According to Joseph Horowitz in his book Conversations With Arrau (1982), many critics feel his overall approach became less spontaneous and more reserved and introspective after the death of his mother, to whom he was extremely close.
At the time of his death at 88 in Mürzzuschlag, Austria, Arrau was working on a compact disc recording of the complete works of Bach for keyboard, and had Haydn, Mendelssohn, Reger, Busoni and Boulez's 3rd Sonata in preparation. His remains were interred in his native city of Chillán, Chile.
The Robert Schumann Society established the Arrau Medal in 1991. It has been awarded to András Schiff, Martha Argerich and Murray Perahia.
Arrau recorded the complete piano music of Robert Schumann, and edited his works for publication, as well as all Beethoven piano sonatas in Urtext edition. He is also famous for his recordings of Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Liszt, Chopin, Schubert and Debussy, among others. He played with style and passion, with a prodigious technique. Many claimed that his rich, weighty tone lent his interpretations a distinctive voice, some saying it sounded thick and muddy and others praising its rounded tone, saying it sounded as though Arrau were almost playing the organ or "plowing" his "paws" into the "flexible" keyboard. According to American critic Harold Schonberg, Arrau always put "a decidedly romantic piano tone in his interpretations." Although he often played with slower and more deliberate tempi from his middle age, Arrau had a reputation for being a fabulous virtuoso early in his career. According to Joseph Horowitz in his book Conversations With Arrau (1982), many critics feel his overall approach became less spontaneous and more reserved and introspective after the death of his mother, to whom he was extremely close.
At the time of his death at 88 in Mürzzuschlag, Austria, Arrau was working on a compact disc recording of the complete works of Bach for keyboard, and had Haydn, Mendelssohn, Reger, Busoni and Boulez's 3rd Sonata in preparation. His remains were interred in his native city of Chillán, Chile.
The Robert Schumann Society established the Arrau Medal in 1991. It has been awarded to András Schiff, Martha Argerich and Murray Perahia.
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05Liszt: 12 Etudes d'exécution transcendante, S.139 - No.5 Feux follets (Allegretto)4:17Claudio Arrau
08Liszt: 12 Etudes d'exécution transcendante, S.139 - No.8 Wilde Jagd (Presto furioso)5:01Claudio Arrau
11Liszt: 12 Etudes d'exécution transcendante, S.139 - No.11 Harmonies du soir (Andantino)8:55Claudio Arrau
12Liszt: 12 Etudes d'exécution transcendante, S.139 - No.12 Chasse neige (Andante con moto)5:57Claudio Arrau
13Liszt: 3 Etudes de Concert, S.144 - No. 1 in A flat "Il lamento" (A capriccio - Allegro cantabile)10:41Claudio Arrau
14Liszt: 3 Etudes de Concert, S.144 - No. 2 in F minor "La leggierezza" (A capriccio - Quasi allegretto)5:28Claudio Arrau
15Liszt: 3 Etudes de Concert, S.144 - No. 3 in D flat "Un sospiro" (Allegro affettuoso)6:00Claudio Arrau
20Liszt: 6 Etudes d'exécution transcendante d'après Paganini, S.140 - 3. La Campanella4:39Claudio Arrau
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Liszt: The Complete Etudes
Claudio Arrau Lyrics
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