Alfred Brendel

Alfred Brendel is a classical pianist who was born in what was then Czechoslovakia and grew up in Zagreb, Yugoslavia and in Graz, Austria. Known for his strict interpretations, he has performed around the world and his recordings have earned ten Grammy Award nominations. He studied piano as a child and appeared in public for the first time in Graz when he was 17. He entered regional competitions and toured across Europe and Latin America.

He made his recording debut at the age of 21 in 1952 with 'Weihnachtsbaum' by Franz Liszt and went on to release many albums as a soloist including 'Schubert: Sonata in B Flat, Op. 960' (1973) which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Solo Instrumental Classical Performance Without Orchestra. He was nominated for the same prize for 'Schubert: Sonata in A Minor, Op. 42 and Hungarian Melody in B Minor D817' (1976), 'Bach: Italian Concerto/Choral Prelude/Prelude S922/Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue/Fantasy and Fugue' (1978) and 'Liszt: Annees De Pelerinage, Second Year: Italy' (1988). He also was nominated for Grammy Awards for Solo Classical Performances With an Orchestra including 'Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B Flat Major' (1974), 'Mozart: Concertos No. 18 in B Flat Major and 27 in B Flat Major for Piano and Orchestra' (1975), 'Beethoven: Concerti for Piano (5)' (1977), 'Beethoven: The 5 Piano Concertos' (1984), which was also nominated as Best Classical Album, and for the track 'Schoenberg: Piano Concerto' (1996).

His 2009 release 'Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonata' went to number 45 on Billboard's Classical Albums Chart, 'The Farewell Concerts' (2010) with the Wiener Philharmoniker conducted by Charles Mackerras reached number 35 and 'Mozart: Piano Concertos' (2011) with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields conducted by Neville Marriner peaked at number 42. He released two albums in 2018, 'Mozart Chamber Music - The Last String Quartets' and 'Live in Vienna: Schumann, Brahms'. Collections include 'Alfred Brendel Collection' (2001), 'Alfred Brendel - Complete Philips Recordings' (2015) and 'Alfred Brendel - Concerto Recordings' (2016). He also features on several DVDs including 'Alfred Brendel in Portrait' based on a BBC TV program made to celebrate his 70th birthday in 2001.