He is widely considered one of the greatest pianists of the twentieth century. Arrau was born in Chillán, Chile, the son of Carlos Arrau, an ophthalmologist who died when Claudio was only a year old, and Lucrecia León Bravo de Villalba, a piano teacher.
Where did Pablo Arrau grow up?
Born on February 6, 1903 in Chillan, in central Chile, Mr. Arrau showed his musical abilities early. His father, Carlos Arrau, had died before he was a year old, and his mother supported the family by giving piano lessons.
When did Arrau give his first piano concert?
In 1936, Arrau gave a complete Mozart keyboard works over 5 recitals, and followed with the complete Schubert and Weber cycles. In 1938, for the first time, Arrau gave the complete Beethoven piano sonatas and concertos in Mexico City. Arrau repeated this several times in his lifetime, including in New York and London.
Where did Arrau live in Munich?
Olin Downes, reviewing a recital of Mozart, Schumann, Ravel and Debussy works in The New York Times, described Mr. Arrau as “a pianist of most exceptional equipment, imagination and unfailing taste.” That year, he settled in Douglaston, Queens, where he lived until he moved to Munich in November 1990.
How many piano recitals did Arrau give?
In 1935, Arrau gave a celebrated rendition of the entire keyboard works of Johann Sebastian Bach over 12 recitals. In 1936, Arrau gave a complete Mozart keyboard works over 5 recitals, and followed with the complete Schubert and Weber cycles. In 1938, for the first time, Arrau gave the complete Beethoven piano sonatas and concertos in Mexico City.
What kind of music did Arsen Arrau record?
Arrau recorded a considerable part of the piano music of Schumann, Chopin and Liszt. He edited the complete Beethoven piano sonatas for the Peters Urtext edition and recorded all of them on the Philips label in 1962–1966. He recorded almost all of them once again in 1984-1990 along with Mozart’s complete piano sonatas.
What kind of music did Francisco Arrau write?
According to American critic Harold C. Schonberg, Arrau always put “a decidedly romantic piano tone in his interpretations”. Arrau was an intellectual and a deeply reflective interpreter. He read widely while travelling, and he learned English, Italian, German, and French in addition to his native Spanish.
