Wilhelm Kempff

Categories: 1895 births | 1991 deaths | German pianists | Classical pianists

Wilhelm Kempff (November 25, 1895 – May 23, 1991) was a German pianist and composer.

Kempff was born in Jüterbog, Germany and studied in Berlin and Potsdam. He toured widely throughout contintental Europe and much of the rest of the world, but did not make his first London appearance until 1951, and did not play in New York until 1964. He died in Positano, Italy.

Considered one of the greatest pianists of twentieth century, Kempff is celebrated today for his recordings of Schumann, Brahms, Schubert, Mozart, Bach, Liszt, Chopin and particularly, of Ludwig van Beethoven. He recorded over a period of some sixty years. Kempff was among the first to record the complete Sonatas of Franz Schubert long before these works became popular. He also recorded two celebrated sets of the complete Beethoven sonatas, one in mono and the other in early stereo.

Kempff also played chamber music with Yehudi Menuhin and Pierre Fournier among others. Particularly famous are the recordings of the complete Beethoven sonatas for violin and piano with Menuhin.

A lesser known activity of Kempff was also composing. He composed for almost every genre. His second symphony was premiered in 1929 at the Leipzig Gewandhaus by Wilhelm Furtwängler. He also prepared a number of Bach transcriptions, including the Siciliano from the Flute Sonata in E, which has been recorded by the pianist Idil_Biret.de:Wilhelm Kempff it:Wilhelm Kempff ja:ヴィルヘルム・ケンプ