Skip to content
    skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    Listen

    On Air Now

    Alexander Armstrong 9am - 12pm

    Alexander Armstrong

    Now Playing

    Symphony No.9 in D minor Opus 125 (2) Ludwig Van Beethoven

    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Lifestyle
    • Win
    • Charity
    • Podcasts
    • Events
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on Twitter
      Follow Classic FM on Facebook
      Follow Classic FM on Instagram
      Follow Classic FM on Youtube

    Artists

    Alfred Brendel

    Alfred Brendel at 85: a piano legend in pictures

    Alfred Brendel is one of the greatest pianists who has ever lived. To celebrate his 85th birthday this month, we take a look back at his legendary career in pictures

    1. Alfred Brendel

      1. Alfred Brendel, born in 1931

      Brendel was born in 1931 in Wiesenberg (now Loučná nad Desnou in the Czech Republic) to what he’s described as a non-musical family. He started piano lessons at the age of six. Picture: Getty

    2. Alfred Brendel

      2. Alfred Brendel

      Brendel gave his first public recital in Graz, Austria, at the age of 17. In 1952, aged 21 he made his first solo recording – of Liszt’s Weihnachtsbaum. Credit: Getty

    3. Alfred Brendel

      3. Alfred Brendel

      In 2009 Alfred Brendel won the South Bank Show Classical Music Award for his 'Retirement Concerts'. Here, he poses with his award (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

    4. Alfred Brendel

      4. Alfred Brendel

      He’s best known for his interpretations of the music of Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert and Mozart. Credit: Getty

    5. Alfred Brendel

      5. Alfred Brendel

      Brendel has also written a number of books, (and one collection of poetry) including ‘Musical Thoughts and Afterthoughts’, ‘A Pianist’s A–Z: A Piano Lover’s Reader’ and ‘Alfred Brendel on Music’. Credit: Getty

    6. Alfred Brendel

      6. Alfred Brendel

      Alfred Brendel was given an honorary knighthood in 1989. It is just one of the many honours and awards he's gathered throughout his life. Credit: Getty

    7. Alfred Brendel

      7. Alfred Brendel

      In 2010, Gramophone magazine awarded Alfred Brendel its lifetime achievement award. Credit: Getty

    8. Alfred Brendel

      8. Alfred Brendel

      In 1983 he performed a cycle of all of Beethoven's Piano Sonatas in New York's Carnegie Hall. He was only the second pianist to do so – Artur Schnabel was the first. And in 1993 Brendel did it again! Credit: Getty

    9. Alfred Brendel

      9. Alfred Brendel's last public performance

      Alfred Brendel performed his last ever public concert at the Vienna Musikverein on December 18, 2008 in Vienna. He played Mozart's Piano Concerto No.9, the 'Jeunehomme'. Picture: Getty

    10. Alfred Brendel

      10. Alfred Brendel

      Happy 85th birthday, to a true piano legend!

    Alfred Brendel News

    See more Alfred Brendel News

    Forever Vienna, Andre Rieu

    This Week's Top 30 - 16 January 2010

    Alfred Brendel Music

    See more Alfred Brendel Music

    Alfred Brendel - The Farewell concerts

    CD of the week: Alfred Brendel – The Farewell Concerts

    Back to top

    Also on Classic FM

    • Listen to Global Player
    • Alexander Armstrong on Classic FM
    • Christmas Songs
    • Music for Pets
    • Quizzes
    • Handel
    • Debussy
    • Music theory
    • Instruments
    • Brahms
    • Vivaldi
    • Bach
    • Tchaikovsky
    • Chopin
    • Andrea Bocelli
    • Beethoven
    • Mozart
    • Best classical music
    • Classic FM Live
    • Classic FM Requests
    • Best pianists
    • Harry Potter music
    • Saturday Night at the Movies
    • Star Wars soundtrack
    • Composer or pasta
    • Music for Studying
    • Best violinists
    • Classical music tearjerkers
    • Relaxing classical

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • About Classic FM
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise
    • Global Jobs

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Classic FM on Twitter
    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube
    © Global 2022
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager