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Jorge Bolet, Bilthoven 1978
2 February 1978 "It was in the second half of the seventies that I asked Jorge to give a recital in my home town Bilthoven [a village in the Dutch province of Utrecht], part of the municipality De Bilt (Netherlands). Jorge agreed and the concert was arranged by the cultural department of the Town Hall. "The concert was part of a tour, including Amsterdam, of Jorge playing the new Bechstein EN. So the tour was joined by Ulrich Adam, artist representative for Bechstein. (Later
Blue Pumpkin
17 hours ago1 min read


Jorge Bolet's final concerts
On 8 June 1989, JB gave his last public recital (in Berlin, Germany) Mattheus Smits has sent me a photo of the last page of the schedule with a note: "As you can see on this itinerary the last performance of Jorge with an orchestra was Rachmaninoff's third concerto in Herford and Paderborn. The conductor was Alun Francis. The performance was recorded and broadcasted by WDR. "I was not able to attend but my good friend Hans did. Jorge told him that he had just come from Cana
Blue Pumpkin
1 day ago1 min read


Jorge Bolet, The Mikado & Japan
This is an extensive and detailed account of Jorge Bolet during his three visits to Japan in the years 1946, 1976 and 1988 but it also examines the wider picture of his career at these times. Comments, corrections and additions are most welcome. Use the contact box (unless you already have my email).
Blue Pumpkin
May 231 min read


Jorge Bolet in the Southern Cone 1979
10 July 1979 Teatro Solís, Montevideo, Uruguay 30th anniversary of SODRE (Servicio Oficial de Difusión, Representaciones y Espectáculos; Official Service for Broadcasting, Performances and Entertainment) in con junction with the Embassy of the USA Liszt's Sonata, Funerailles and his Transcendental Études 7, 6, 12, 9 and 8. (JB's first appearance in the country) El País (Montevideo): Inimitable style. He is a gigantic man, and possesses a musical and pianistic talent that is
Blue Pumpkin
May 194 min read


Mexico City, June 1982
Mexico City, June 1982. Sala Nezahualcóyotl., Mexico City
Franck, Symphonic Variations
Rachmaninoff, Variations on a theme of Paganini
Blue Pumpkin
May 152 min read


Jorge Bolet, Peru 1983, Sendero Luminoso
During a tour of South America in 1983, Jorge had two dates in Peru. He admited that some countries he visited were politically unstable and sometimes dangerous. However he also mentioned to his friend Mattheus Smits that these countries were known for having attentive audiences of some highly cultured people. I am aware of the general situation in Peru at this time, but I recently looked at the specific political situation in July 1983. and it was grim I need to confirm
Blue Pumpkin
May 112 min read


What did Jorge Bolet do for Liszt?
Latest upload on YouTube, always to keep Jorge's name in view
Blue Pumpkin
May 81 min read


Jorge Bolet in Latin America 1936-58
This list does not include Cuba. See also 1974-84 In El Caribe (12.11.1981), Lamela Geler stated that Jorge visited Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) in the early 1950s and played in the Teatro Olimpia, under the auspices of Sociedad Pro Arte. Now he gives a second recital in Santo Domingo. She goes on to state: 'Conocido mayormente en Europa y los Estados Unidos, ya que sus incursiones en América Latina han sido escasas, su repertorio está constituido por el total del ma
Blue Pumpkin
Apr 304 min read


Jorge in Latin America 1974-1984
This list does not include Cuba. See also 1936-58 1974 In late 1974, Jorge was one of the judges on the Concurso Latinoamericano de Piano Teresa Carreño in Caracas, Venezuela. He made a number of concert appearances in Caracas. 1975 17 September 1975 São Paulo, Brazil Recital 19 and 21 September 1975 Teatro Municipal de São Paulo, Brazil Rachmaninoff's Paganini Variations OSESP (Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo) under Gerard Devos 23 September 1975 [?] Rio de Ja
Blue Pumpkin
Apr 307 min read
Mozart/Liszt, Telemann/Reger
My trawl through Jorge Bolet's concerts has clarified a number of issues. It looks as if it was in the mid-1970s that he introduced two new and substantial works to his repertoire. I could have missed earlier mentions but it may be that someone can explain how he came to these two works, especially the Reger which has high rarity value. 29 September 1975 Teatro Coliseo, Buenos Aires (Argentina) incl.Chopin's Sonata No. 3 in B minor Op.58 and the Mozart/Liszt Don Juan Fantas
Blue Pumpkin
Apr 241 min read


Jorge Bolet début in Toronto
The Mail & Globe, Toronto (April 1975) 17 April 1975; Eaton Auditorium, Toronto, Canada. [JB's Toronto recital début] Mendelssohn, Chopin, Sonata No.3, Liszt Petrarch + Tannhäuser 'When you consider, he's been playing professionally for more than 40 years, he seems to have taken his time getting up here. But then, as he says "I've been a long time arriving everywhere."'
Blue Pumpkin
Apr 231 min read
Alberti bass
In noting down that Jorge Bolet gave summer masterclasses at Indiana during 17-21 June, 1974, I recalled a witty remark from the transcript of one masterclass - not necessarily at Indiana - where he emphasised that the melody must always be brought out (something he always demonstrated in his own playing). He said something like: "I have given hundreds of concerts, and I've never known anyone to pay the price of admission to hear an Alberti bass."
Blue Pumpkin
Apr 211 min read
Jorge Bolet and the Gates of Hell
There's a bit of drudgery leafing through masses of newspaper reviews, but it's worth it when you come across a jewel like this. 31 January 1971 (Sunday, 3pm) Fair Lawn High School, Fair Lawn, New Jersey, USA Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.31 in A-flat major, Op.110 Liszt: 12 Études d’exécution transcendante, S.139: 7. Eroica, 5. Feux Follets, 9. Ricordanza, 8. Wilde Jagd Chopin: 24 Preludes, Op.28 Encores: Schumann/Liszt: Widmung, Op.25 No.1 (S.566), Chopin: Waltz in D-flat majo
Blue Pumpkin
Apr 141 min read


Australian reviews 1965
Jorge Bolet in the Syndey Morning Herald and The Age
Blue Pumpkin
Apr 91 min read


Garden Party for a Steinway and Jorge Bolet
The Columbus Ledger (Georgia) devotes at least five articles to Jorge in October 1961
Blue Pumpkin
Apr 41 min read


Big break 1938
Check out this page
Blue Pumpkin
Apr 11 min read


Pianist Receives a “Strong” Welcome
Pianist Jorge Bolet Receives a “Strong” Welcome "A visiting pianist at Joint Senior High School expected polite applause and perhaps a wilted corsage. Instead, he was met by the school’s human brick wall: the school’s impressively built football team, captained by Buck “Brick” Donovan—owner of a jaw you could sharpen pencils on, shoulders that apparently require their own postcode, and a varsity sweater clinging on for dear life. His grin? Bright enough to make the stage ligh
Blue Pumpkin
Apr 12 min read


Jorge Bolet in New Zealand/Aotearoa
I've added some reviews from Jorge's New Zealand tour of 1964 to the relevant page. Here are some clippings from the Evening Post .
Blue Pumpkin
Mar 301 min read


Jorge Bolet, Berlin: 8 June 1989
Jorge in cheerful mood entering the green room in the Philharmonie, Berlin before what turned out to be his last recital. (Photo: Mattheus Smits)
Blue Pumpkin
Mar 251 min read


Australian interview (Jorge Bolet)
The Age (Melbourne, Australia), 28 February 1987
Blue Pumpkin
Feb 241 min read
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