Rudolf Serkin
Rudolf Serkin emerged from the environment of post-World War I Austria to become one of the most profound and challenging pianists of the century, leaving a lasting impression on following generations.
Childhood studies in Vienna with Richard Robert for piano, and Joseph Marx and Arnold Schoenberg for composition, led to a 1915 debut performance with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra at the age of 12. After 1920, Serkin was associated with noted violinist Adolf Busch, both as a duo-sonata partner, and with the Busch Chamber Orchestra (and, from 1935, as Busch's son-in-law). An American debut in 1936 with the New York Philharmonic under Toscanini led to Serkin's decision to relocate to the U.S. in 1939. Invited to join the piano faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music, he quickly rose to become head of the piano department, and, from 1968, president of the Institute. He devoted his summers to cultivating several generations of young musicians at the Marlboro Festival in Vermont.
Many observers have remarked that Serkin was not a natural pianist. Indeed, he seemed rather to play by force of will alone, and the strength of his musicianship lay more in the deep insight that he brought to the music of the composers he held dearest -- traditional Austrian and German masters -- than in virtuosic pianism. In Beethoven's sonatas, Serkin found particular inspiration. His Beethoven interpretations do not necessarily please the listener in terms of superficial "beauty," but rather convey the unique mixture of logic, violence, and spiritual transcendence that he feels is the essence of Beethoven's work. In the Brahms concerti, Serkin's vision was nothing short of titanic. On off-nights, however, Serkin's lofty, cerebral brand of pianism sometimes failed him, and the austere, "square" approach to phrasing that makes his playing so immediately recognizable sometimes sounded unnecessarily harsh.
Rudolf Serkin's discography is impressive, spanning most of the general repertory from Bach to the early/mid-20th century, and including such relative novelties as the F minor Concerto of Max Reger, a composer Serkin had an abiding affinity for. His work at the Curtis Institute, and, during the summers, at the Marlboro Festival, made him one of the most influential American teachers of the post-World War II era. Serkin's son Peter was also a pianist of considerable renown.
© Blair Johnstone /TiVo
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Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73 "Emperor": II. Adagio un poco mosso
Rudolf Serkin, Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra
Classical - Released by The state51 Conspiracy Ltd on Apr 3, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Master of Classic Music, Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 20
Rudolf Serkin, Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra
Classical - Released by Oscardigital on Sep 22, 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schumann, Busoni & Beethoven
Keyboard Concertos - Released by Altair on Sep 13, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Perfect Story: Violin and Piano
Rudolf Serkin, Mieczislaw Horszowsky
Classical - Released by Urania Records on Mar 15, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Chamber Works
Adolf Busch, Hugo Gottesmann, Rudolf Serkin, Hermann Busch
Chamber Music - Released by Archipel on Sep 27, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rudolf Serkin plays Beethoven Vol. 2 (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Classical - Released by IDIS on Jul 27, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 3
Classical - Released by Sony Classical on Mar 10, 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ormandy Conducts the Philadelphia Orchestra, Vol. 6
Rudolf Serkin, Oscar Levant, Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra
Classical - Released by Infinity on Dec 13, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73 "Emperor"
Rudolf Serkin, Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra
Classical - Released by The state51 Conspiracy on Apr 3, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Master of Music, Mendelssohn - Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 25, Concerto for Violin, Piano and Strings
Rudolf Serkin, Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra
Classical - Released by Oscardigital on Jul 21, 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rudolf Serkin plays Beethoven
Rudolf Serkin, Ferruccio Scaglia, Orchestra Sinfonica Di Roma Della RAI
Classical - Released by G.O.P. on Feb 25, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven, busoni & schumann: piano sonata no. 23, 'appassionata' - violin sonata no. 2 - piano concerto
Rudolf Serkin, Adolf Busch, Julius Harrison, London Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by Infinity on Jun 16, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Piano Quartet No.2
Rudolf Serkin, Adolf Busch, Karl Doktor, Hermann Busch, Members of The Busch Quartet
Chamber Music - Released by Infinity on Jul 2, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven; Sonata for Violin and Piano Nos. 1, 8, 9
Classical - Released by Urania on Feb 4, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pianistas Famosos, Rudolf Serkin - Piano Concerto No. 20
Rudolf Serkin, Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra
Classical - Released by Hhpvrdigital on Jan 19, 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classical Britain
Quatuor Busch, Stokowski Symphony Orchestra, Rudolf Serkin
Classical - Released by Editions Audiovisuel Beulah on Sep 14, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pianistas Famosos, Rudolf Serkin - Piano Sonata No. 13, Op. 27
Classical - Released by Hhpvrdigital on Jan 19, 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo