Gary Graffman
- Biography
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Early Life
Gary Graffman was born on October 28, 1928 in New York City. He was the son of Russian immigrants, and his father was a violinist. Graffman began playing the piano at the age of four, and by the age of seven he was already performing in public. He studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he was a student of the renowned pianist and teacher, Rudolf Serkin.
Career
Graffman's career began in earnest in 1945, when he made his debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He went on to perform with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He also performed as a soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic.
Graffman was also a prolific recording artist, and his recordings of works by Beethoven, Brahms, and Chopin are considered among the finest ever made. He was also a noted teacher, and his students included the pianists Leon Fleisher, Peter Serkin, and Richard Goode.
In 1965, Graffman suffered a hand injury that forced him to give up performing. He turned his attention to teaching and conducting, and he served as the director of the Curtis Institute of Music from 1986 to 1994. He also wrote several books on the subject of piano playing, including "I Really Should Be Practicing" and "No Longer a Performance: A Memoir".
Legacy
Gary Graffman was one of the most influential pianists of the 20th century. His recordings of the works of Beethoven, Brahms, and Chopin are considered among the finest ever made, and his students included some of the most renowned pianists of the modern era. He was also a noted teacher and conductor, and his tenure as director of the Curtis Institute of Music was marked by a period of growth and expansion.
Graffman's legacy lives on in the many students he taught and the recordings he made. He was a true master of the piano, and his influence will continue to be felt for generations to come.
Date modified: Apr 5, 2023We seek for an accuracy and correctness in our content. In case you spot any mistake, please contact us
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