Alfred Brendel Celebrated with Joyful Blend of Silliness and Serenity on What Would Have Been His 95th Birthday
The legendary pianist, poet, and polymath Alfred Brendel would have turned 95 today, but his musical legacy lives on in a glorious evening that celebrated the contradictions that made him an iconic figure. The marathon concert, performed by an ad-hoc orchestra of Brendel's colleagues, proteges, and friends, showcased the classical repertoire that was close to his heart.
The event began with a spirited performance of Haydn's Representation of Chaos from The Creation, setting the tone for a night of music that was both rigorous and mischievous. As conductor Simon Rattle led the ensemble through a series of witty and unexpected moments, it became clear that Brendel's own passions had shaped the evening's programming.
A particularly effective blend of humor and poignancy came when Brendel took to the stage for a reading of his own poetry, accompanied by the controlled silliness of Pierre-Laurent Aimard at the piano. The juxtaposition between Harriet Walter's deadpan delivery and Aimard's playful touch was a highlight of the evening.
The orchestra also performed a stirring rendition of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 3, with Till Fellner and Paul Lewis delivering a weighty and expressive performance. This was followed by an unexpected foray into the world of Mauricio Kagel's Marches to Fall Short of Victory, which flowed unexpectedly into the final movement of the concerto.
Throughout the evening, Brendel's presence was felt through the many pianists who counted him as a mentor or friend, including Imogen Cooper and Tim Horton. The Takács Quartet also took part in a beautiful performance of Schubert's C major Quintet, which spoke eloquently of absence, acceptance, and thankfulness.
One of the most striking aspects of the evening was its sense of community, as Brendel's colleagues and friends came together to celebrate his life and work. While there were moments of humor and playfulness, the overall atmosphere remained warm and affectionate, a testament to the enduring power of music to bring people together.
As the curtain closed on this joyous celebration of Brendel's legacy, it was clear that his spirit would continue to inspire and delight audiences for years to come.
The legendary pianist, poet, and polymath Alfred Brendel would have turned 95 today, but his musical legacy lives on in a glorious evening that celebrated the contradictions that made him an iconic figure. The marathon concert, performed by an ad-hoc orchestra of Brendel's colleagues, proteges, and friends, showcased the classical repertoire that was close to his heart.
The event began with a spirited performance of Haydn's Representation of Chaos from The Creation, setting the tone for a night of music that was both rigorous and mischievous. As conductor Simon Rattle led the ensemble through a series of witty and unexpected moments, it became clear that Brendel's own passions had shaped the evening's programming.
A particularly effective blend of humor and poignancy came when Brendel took to the stage for a reading of his own poetry, accompanied by the controlled silliness of Pierre-Laurent Aimard at the piano. The juxtaposition between Harriet Walter's deadpan delivery and Aimard's playful touch was a highlight of the evening.
The orchestra also performed a stirring rendition of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 3, with Till Fellner and Paul Lewis delivering a weighty and expressive performance. This was followed by an unexpected foray into the world of Mauricio Kagel's Marches to Fall Short of Victory, which flowed unexpectedly into the final movement of the concerto.
Throughout the evening, Brendel's presence was felt through the many pianists who counted him as a mentor or friend, including Imogen Cooper and Tim Horton. The Takács Quartet also took part in a beautiful performance of Schubert's C major Quintet, which spoke eloquently of absence, acceptance, and thankfulness.
One of the most striking aspects of the evening was its sense of community, as Brendel's colleagues and friends came together to celebrate his life and work. While there were moments of humor and playfulness, the overall atmosphere remained warm and affectionate, a testament to the enduring power of music to bring people together.
As the curtain closed on this joyous celebration of Brendel's legacy, it was clear that his spirit would continue to inspire and delight audiences for years to come.
... i mean, can u imagine havin a 95th birthday party like that? 
wit all those talented ppl comin together 2 celebrate his life & legacy? it's so inspiring! 
& i love how the event blended seriousness & playfulness - it's like Brendel himself, u know? 
... but what struck me most was how Brendel's presence still felt throughout the evening, even when he wasn't on stage. it's like his music & spirit just kept on goin, even after all these yrs 
. But let's be real, he'd still be playing the piano if he were alive now, and probably would've been even more annoying about it too. The fact that everyone came together to celebrate him just makes me think it was all a bit of a nostalgia trip for people who knew him back in the day... 
. And don't even get me started on how fake it looks when everyone's smiling and having a good time – I'm sure there were plenty of people who didn't really want to be there... 
.
they actually did this amazing tribute 2 alfred Brendel's life & work on wot wd hv bn his 95th bday!! i mean, the way thie orchestra put together this epic concert wit all ths diff classical pieces & poems & stuff... it's like Brendel's spirit is still wiv us!! 
Pierre-Laurent Aimard & Harriet Walter tho 
they were like a match made in heaven on stage! and Till Fellner & Paul Lewis on Beethoven's piano concerto? 
i'm dead. can we just give Brendel a permanent statue in the park now pls? 
95 might be old but his music is forever young! 
even though he's no longer with us, his legacy lives on through the people who knew him and his incredible talent. #BrendelForever #PianoLegend #ClassicalMusic
. I mean, Brendel was a great musician and all, but this whole thing just seems like a bunch of people trying to be sentimental 
. And don't even get me started on the Beethoven concerto - too much drama for my taste 
.
? i mean, the guy was literally a polymath - pianist, poet, conductor... what a wild ride his life must have been! and it's so beautiful to see all these artists coming together to celebrate him. i loved the way they wove together different styles and pieces - like that hilarious Beethoven concerto that ended up being part of some weird avant-garde mashup 
. The sense of community and camaraderie at the concert is so inspiring... it just goes to show how much music can mean to people 
It's amazing how much personality he brought to classical music - who knew Haydn's Representation of Chaos could be so hilarious? 
But what really got me was when Brendel took the stage to read his own poetry, it was like watching an old friend sharing stories around the piano 
What I love most is how this whole thing felt like a big party, with everyone coming together to celebrate his music and legacy 
! And that poem reading with Pierre-Laurent Aimard was so beautifully done - it really captured Brendel's spirit 
. But what I love most is how the whole evening felt like a warm hug, just a big gathering of people who loved and respected him 
. It's amazing how one person can leave such a lasting impact on so many people. The way his friends and colleagues came together to celebrate him, it's just beautiful 
. And can we talk about what an amazing group of people were involved in this event? It's clear that Brendel meant something special to everyone who knew him 
. His legacy is going to keep on living through all the talented musicians he inspired 
it was like brendel's essence just poured out of every note 
the best part? seeing brendel's friends and colleagues come together to celebrate his life – it was like a beautiful symphony of love 
and humor 
. And who knows? Brendel's spirit might just keep inspiring new music 