Alfred Brendel (1931-2025)

The great Austrian pianist, Alfred Brendel died at his home in Hampstead, north London on 17 June 2025. I was privileged to hear him many times, including his final London recital at the Royal Festival Hall in 2008. For me, tho For me, he is the first pianist to whom I turn for Beethoven and Schubert.

It's interesting that are well-known (and - it may respectfully be said - highly opinionated) online YouTube CD critic asked last year: "Whatever Happened to Alfred Brendel?", the implication presumably (?) being that the music-loving public had somehow forgotten about him and his legacy since his retirement in 2008. Well, the outpouring of memories and gratitude all across the Internet over the last 24 hours hs shown that we didn't forget him. I have many memories, but one that sticks in the mind was the RFH London one June when he included Schubert's A minor Sonata D845; in the trio of scherzo, I recall closing my eyes and thinking, "It doesn't get better than this". Another would be his encore after Beethoven's "Waldstein: the Andante favori in F Major, WoO 57 and the striking modulation to G flat major and back to F for the ecstatic conclusion at the end (8'24").

And as a delightful extra - from a masterclass in Jerusalem (1983) - watch him demonstrate how the rippling, descending figure early on in Beethoven's Sonata No. 30 in E major Op.109 should be played. (whole video here).

-When were you happiest?

-When I discovered bread and butter pudding.