Clifford Curzon
Clifford Curzon was among the finest English pianists of the twentieth century, known for his clear, ego-less performances of the German Classical and Romantic masterpieces. A quiet intellectual who nevertheless possessed a formidable technique, Curzon played everything from Mozart to Liszt with equal authority. His fans often cite this ability to emphasize the personality of each composer, rather than his own, as his most distinctive quality. Curzon recorded for the Decca label for over 30 years, leaving behind a modestly sized, but musically impressive catalog. His recordings of Mozart and Schubert are considered his best.
Curzon achieved success early, with a scholarship to London's Royal Academy of Music in 1919. His impressive student career earned him every prize available to a pianist at the Academy, and he made his professional debut in 1923 -- playing Bach's Triple Concerto with conductor Henry Wood at a Promenade Concert in Queen's Hall. In 1926, when still just 19 years old, he was invited to join the RAM faculty; he remained on the faculty there until 1932, when he became a full-time performing pianist. During his time teaching at the RAM, Curzon spent several extended periods abroad studying with great pianists: first with Artur Schnabel in Berlin, and then with Wanda Landowska and Nadia Boulanger in Paris. In 1936, Curzon made a recital tour of Europe with violist Lionel Tertis, and in 1939, he made his U.S. debut at New York's Town Hall. By 1941, he was making records for Decca, beginning a relationship that would last almost to the end of his life.
Curzon was an exacting perfectionist, often refusing to allow the release of recordings he felt were imperfect. This included recordings of Mozart concertos with the likes of George Szell, István Kertész, and Benjamin Britten conducting. For this and other reasons, he earned a reputation for being difficult, and at times highly temperamental -- an irony, considering his generally retiring nature, and the restrained elegance of his playing. Curzon was knighted in 1977.
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Milestones of a Piano Legend: Sir Clifford Curzon, Vol. 3
Clifford Curzon, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, Hans Knappertsbusch
Klassik - Erschienen bei Intense Media GmbH am 18.03.2018
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Milestones of a Piano Legend: Sir Clifford Curzon, Vol. 2
Clifford Curzon, London Symphony Orchestra, George Szell
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Milestones of a Piano Legend: Sir Clifford Curzon, Vol. 1
Clifford Curzon, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, Hans Knappertsbusch
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Milestones of a Piano Legend: Sir Clifford Curzon, Vol. 10
Clifford Curzon, Queen's Hall Light Orchestra, Henry Wood
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Milestones of a Piano Legend: Sir Clifford Curzon, Vol. 9
Clifford Curzon, Willi Boskovsky, Gunther Breitenbach, Nikolaus Hubner, Johann Krump
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Milestones of a Piano Legend: Sir Clifford Curzon, Vol. 6
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Milestones of a Piano Legend: Sir Clifford Curzon, Vol. 7
Clifford Curzon, Norbert Brainin, New Symphony Orchestra, Peter Schidlof, Enrique Jorda, Martin Lovett
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Schubert: Piano Quintet in a Major, Opus 114 "the Trout"
Clifford Curzon, Members of the Vienna Octet
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More Piano Giants: Clifford Curzon, Vol. 6
Klassik - Erschienen bei Intense Media GmbH am 15.03.2019
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Milestones of a Piano Legend: Sir Clifford Curzon, Vol. 5
Clifford Curzon, London Symphony Orchestra, Oivin Fjeldstad
Klassik - Erschienen bei Intense Media GmbH am 18.03.2018
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