Friedrich Gulda (* May 16, 1930 in Vienna; † January 27, 2000 in Weißenbach am Attersee) was a pianist and composer from Austria. Friedrich Gulda began playing the piano at the age of seven. In 1942, he completed his musical training with Bruno Seidlhofer on the piano and Joseph Marx in the areas of music theory and composition. For this, Friedrich Gulda went to what is now the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. At the age of just 16, the artist took part in the Geneva International Music Competition. His career then took off to world fame. His interpretations of Mozart and Beethoven on the piano are still considered milestones in the field of classical music today. Friedrich Gulda's other repertoire includes works by J. S. Bach, Schubert, Chopin, Debussy and Ravel. A famous student of the artist is the Argentinian pianist Martha Argerich. At his live concerts, Friedrich Gulda repeatedly surprised his audiences with special performances. He once entered the stage naked to play the crumhorn. He often did not stick to the program announced before the concerts. In later years, the musician discovered his passion for jazz and pop. 23 years after his death, the album Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 25 & 27 was released in 2023, featuring recordings made with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Claudio Abbado in 1974 and 1975.
