Walter Gieseking
Walter Gieseking was a German pianist known for his sensitivity and control of tone, color, and dynamics. His recordings of Debussy and Ravel remain an important legacy. He was born in Lyon, France in 1895, and his father was a respected doctor and entomologist. Gieseking started playing the piano when he was four years old and made remarkable progress, especially considering that he was largely self-taught. At the age of 16 he began his first formal piano instruction with Karl Leimer at the Hanover Conservatory. Until then he had received a private education, as he constantly traveled France and Italy with his family throughout his childhood. In 1915, he performed nearly all of Beethoven's piano sonatas in a series of recitals in Hanover. The following year, he was drafted into the German army where he served in the regimental band until the end of World War I in 1918. After completing his military service, he worked as an accompanist, vocal coach, and performed in chamber ensembles. He also resumed his career as a recitalist in 1920, with a debut performance in Berlin that proved to be massively successful. By popular demand, he performed a series of seven additional recitals of Debussy, Ravel, and also newer, lesser-known works by Hindemith, Szymanowski, and Schoenberg. He performed the premiere of Hans Pfitzner's Piano Concerto in London with conductor Fritz Busch in 1923, and in 1926 he debuted in the United States at the Aeolian Hall in New York. Gieseking enjoyed a very prosperous career as a recitalist and soloist throughout Europe and the U.S. until the second World War, when he was accused of being a Nazi sympathizer and was temporarily blacklisted. However he still managed to perform in South America, Japan, and Europe. He was eventually cleared of the accusations, restoring both his political reputation and his career in the U.S., which resumed in 1953 with a recital at Carnegie Hall. This marked a high point in his career that continued until he passed away in 1956. In addition to a busy schedule of performing, Gieseking also recorded a vast repertoire consisting of the complete solo piano music of Mozart and Debussy, and a large selection by Ravel. He started to record all 32 piano sonatas by Beethoven, but was unable to finish before his unexpected death.
© RJ Lambert /TiVo
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Mendelssohn: 17 Songs without Words by Walter Gieseking
Classical - Released by Alexandre Bak - Classical Music Reference Recording on 25 Oct 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Walter Gieseking plays Mendelssohn & Grieg
Classical - Released by Mangora Classical on 3 Jul 2018
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Mozart: Piano Works, Vol. 4. Piano Sonatas, K. 279 - 284
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Debussy: La plus que lente, Études & Fantaisie pour piano et orchestre
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Bach - Piano Works, Vol. 1
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 1 Jan 2023
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Homage to Scarlatti
Aldo Ciccolini, Vladimir Horowitz, Walter Gieseking, Emil Gilels
Classical - Released by Artemisia on 22 Mar 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ravel: Complete Works for Solo Piano
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 1 Jan 1955
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A Mozart Song Recital
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Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 1 Jan 1956
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Grieg: 37 Lyric Pieces by Walter Gieseking
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24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Walter Gieseking: Schumann
Concertos - Released by Claves Records on 1 Oct 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert & Schumann: Piano Works
Classical - Released by Urania Records on 29 Apr 2016
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Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier Book I& II BWV 846-893
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Debussy: Suite Bergamasque
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Debussy: Preludes, Books I & II
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The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Grieg: Piano Concerto, Op. 16 - Franck: Variations symphoniques, FWV 46
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24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Debussy: Complete Works for Piano
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Ravel: The Complete Works for Solo Piano
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Piano Sonatas 8, 9, 10, 13, 14 - Beethoven
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The Complete Homocord Recordings & Other Rarities
Walter Gieseking, Lambros Demetrios Callimahos, Gustav Scheck
Classical - Released by APR on 30 Sep 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo