Maurizio Pollini

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Maurizio Pollini
Pollini in 2009
Born(1942-01-05)5 January 1942
Died23 March 2024(2024-03-23) (aged 82)
Milan, Italy
EducationMilan Conservatory
Occupations
Awards

Maurizio Pollini (5 January 1942 – 23 March 2024) was an Italian pianist and conductor. He was known for performances of Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy, and the Second Viennese School, among others. He also championed works by contemporary composers, including Pierre Boulez, Karlheinz Stockhausen, George Benjamin, Roberto Carnevale, Gianluca Cascioli and Bruno Maderna. Several compositions were written for him, including Luigi Nono's ... sofferte onde serene ..., Giacomo Manzoni's Masse: omaggio a Edgard Varèse, and Salvatore Sciarrino's Fifth Sonata.

Pollini was a left-wing activist in the 1960s and 1970s, and he remained politically engaged in his later life. He maintained some separation between these ideals and his music.

As a conductor he was instrumental in the Rossini revival at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, conducting La donna del lago from a new critical edition in 1981. He also conducted from the keyboard.

Life and career[edit]

1942–early 1960s: Upbringing, studies, and competitions[edit]

Pollini was born in Milan to Gino Pollini, perhaps the first architect—a rationalist—to bring modern architecture to Italy in the 1930s, and his wife Renata Melotti, a sister of the Italian sculptor Fausto Melotti.[1]

From age seven, Pollini studied piano with notable local teacher Carlo Lonati. He remembered that Lonati allowed him to play what he loved. When Lonati died, his student Carlo Vidusso became Pollini's teacher.[2] From age 13 to 18, Pollini was Lonati's student.[3] Vidusso trained Pollini strictly at the Milan Conservatory, preparing him for competition.[2] There Pollini also studied composition and conducting.[4]

In 1957 he took second prize, after Martha Argerich, in the Geneva International Music Competition at the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève.[5] He won both the 1959 International Ettore Pozzoli Piano Competition in Seregno[6] and the 1960 International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw at the age of 18. He selected among the most formidable of the possible etudes the "Octave", "Winter Wind", and "Waterfall", which Piero Rattalino [it] assessed as qualifying Pollini "for either the madhouse or victory".[7] Arthur Rubinstein, leading the jury, declared "that boy can play the piano better than any of us".[8][a]

After these successes, Pollini did not perform for one year. He limited his concertizing in the 1960s to study, broadening his musical experience and expanding his pianistic repertoire.[10] This led to erroneous rumors that he had become a recluse.[11] He taped performances of Chopin's etudes and recorded Chopin's First Concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra under Paul Kletzki for EMI.[12] He had a "crisis of confidence", Peter Andry described, when the Philharmonia offered him a concert series.[13]

He studied with Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli for six months in the early 1960s. Michelangeli's repertoire was select and polished by rigorous practice.[14][b] Pollini obtained "a precise technique and emotional restraint".[16] Some expressed concern that Michelangeli's influence led to Pollini's style becoming "mannered and cold"[13] or "drier, more cerebral".[9] While known for exceptional technique, Pollini was criticized for emotional conservatism.[17] John Rockwell summarized Pollini's "hard‐edged and modern" style as one of "coolness, intensity and virtuosity", noting his tonal control and "sheer dexterity".[18]

Mid-1960s–1970s: Early career and musical and political collaboration[edit]

There was ... tension in the air. ... remember the situation in Italy back then. People were ... talking about a possible Fascist coup. ... I ... tried to read a declaration ... when the United States bombed Hanoi and Hai Phong. Several Italian musicians had signed [it]: Claudio Abbado, Luigi Nono, Manzoni and the Quartetto Italiano, ... Goffredo Petrassi, and Luigi Dallapiccola. ... at the mere sound of the word 'Vietnam', the audience exploded in a kind of collective delirium, which made it impossible to continue my recital. I made several attempts to read this short statement. This was interrupted by the arrival of the police. Eventually, the piano was closed and that was that.

Maurizio Pollini on his experiences during the Years of Lead[19]

Beginning in the mid-1960s, Pollini gave recitals[20] and appeared with orchestras in Europe, the United States, and the Far East. His American debut was 1968.[21] He first toured Japan in 1974.[22] Once wary of becoming pigeonholed as a specialist, especially of Chopin,[9] he had "clearly avoided that [specialist] tag" by the 1970s, Rockwell noted, surveying Pollini's discography in its then range from Mozart to Nono.[18][c]

Especially in the 1960s and 1970s, Pollini was active as a left-wing musician. His collaborative work with Claudio Abbado and Luigi Nono was informed by their shared ideals.[23] He was also musically and politically associated with Giacomo Manzoni and Luigi Pestalozza [it].[24] Pollini worked with Nono in such works as Como una ola de fuerza y luz (1972), which mourned the death of Luciano Cruz, a leader of the Revolutionary Left Movement in Chile.[25] He performed with Abbado at La Scala in Milan in concerts for students and workers, aiming to build a public among them in the spirit that art should be for everybody.[11] The two concertized for the Russell Tribunal.[26] At least one of Pollini's recitals was concluded upon audience unrest and police intervention when he attempted to make a statement about the Vietnam War.

He was able to separate his politics from his musicianship, for example in his work with Karl Böhm.[27]

Pollini in 1975

Nono wrote ... sofferte onde serene ... for Pollini in 1974–1976. It was a meditative soloistic piece on recent losses among their family and friends. Pollini's 1977 live performance was amplified against a magnetic tape recording of himself. Nono thereby explored pianistic envelope ("Sometimes I cut off the attack, so that the sound manifests as a resonance without time") and the sounds of Venice (where "one constantly hears the sound of bells").[28] Nono cited an attraction to Pollini's technique in particular. He sought to amplify and project details of Pollini's sound ("certain nuances of his touch"). They worked together for three days in the recording studio at Radio Milano with audio engineer Marino Zuccheri.[29] The work remained in Pollini's repertoire; he later played it in London at the Southbank Centre's "Fragments of Venice" festival (2007) and in Salzburg (2019).[30]

Pollini took up Boulez's "weighty" Second Sonata in the 1970s.[31] In 1977, he played Bartok's Second Concerto under Boulez with the New York Philharmonic. Harold C. Schonberg wrote that he "had not heard a stronger account".[32]

1980s–2024: Later career and conducting[edit]

Pollini also conducted when he played piano concertos such as Mozart's.[27] He played a "defining role" in the Rossini Opera Festival at Pesaro, conducting La donna del lago from a new critical edition in 1981. The occasion was a "landmark" in the post-war Rossini revival. He was praised for his interpretive insights into Rossini's orchestration, motivic development, and harmony. But he was criticized for his inflexible literalism and quick tempi, which drove Martine Dupuy [fr] to tears. Scholars cited historical evidence and showed him autograph manuscripts to persuade him to allow more ornamentation and rubato, bel canto hallmarks, particularly in the elaborate fioritura of cadential passages. He relented only in the final rondò, "Tanti affetti in tal momento", for which Rossini prepared three ossia for particular singers. Pollini insisted that the singers adhere to these sources.[33]

He tempered this approach somewhat in a 1983 reprise featuring Katia Ricciarelli (Elena), Lucia Valentini Terrani (Malcolm), and Samuel Ramey (Duglas) with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, which Sony recorded.[33][d] For this production, his friend Gae Aulenti stage directed and designed the sets.[35]

At the 1983 Venice Festival of Contemporary Music, among those celebrating Webern's birth centenary, Pollini played the Piano Variations.[36] Celebrating J. S. Bach's 1985 tricentenary, he performed the The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book , in concerts. He recorded it in 2009.[37]

In 1987, he received the Vienna Philharmonic's Honorary Ring while playing Beethoven's piano concertos with them in New York conducted by Abbado.[38][39] In 1993–1994, he played his first complete Beethoven sonata cycle in Berlin and Munich. He continued this in New York City, at La Scala, in London, Paris and Vienna.[38]

Pollini with Pierre Boulez in Paris (2009)

He juxtaposed old and new music at the 1995 Salzburg Festival in the "Progetto Pollini" concert series, at Carnegie Hall (2000–2001) in "Perspectives: Maurizio Pollini", and at London's Royal Festival Hall (2010–2011) in the "Project Pollini", a five-concert series ranging from Bach to Boulez and Stockhausen (with Schoenberg's Op. 19 as an encore).[40] Throughout his career, Pollini championed less popular, often more recent works.[41] He financed these projects with the prize money of the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize[27] On Mozart's 250th birth centenary at the 2006 Salzburg Festival, he changed the second half of the program to Webern's Piano Variations and Boulez's Second Sonata. Some among the audience left at intermission, after the Webern, or during the Boulez.[42]

Pollini continued politically identifying with the left, although he later questioned some Italian leftists' tactics. In 2010, he spoke out against Silvio Berlusconi,[41] concertizing in opposition to constitutional reforms. He offered low-cost, student tickets to his concerts.[27]

In March 2012, Pollini canceled his US appearances, citing his health.[43] He toured Central Europe in 2014, performing at the Salzburg Festival[44] and debuting at the Rheingau Musik Festival with Chopin's Preludes and Debussy's Preludes, Book I, in the Kurhaus Wiesbaden.[45]

Maurizio Pollini died on 23 March 2024, aged 82.[46][47] He is survived by his son, pianist and conductor Daniele Pollini [it].[48]

Recordings[edit]

Pollini's first recordings for Deutsche Grammophon (DG) in 1971 included Stravinsky's Trois mouvements de Petrouchka and Prokofiev's Seventh Sonata. They are considered landmarks of twentieth-century piano discography. He recorded Chopin's Etudes, Opp. 10 and 25 in 1972,[27] and Schoenberg's solo piano œuvre in 1974 for the same label.[49] He recorded the entire Beethoven piano sonatas cycle in 2014.[50] DG celebrated Pollini's 60th birthday (2002) with a 13-CD commemorative edition[51] and his 75th (2017) with a complete 58-CD edition.[52]

Awards and recognition[edit]

In 1996, Pollini received the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize. In 2001, his recording of Beethoven's Diabelli Variations won the Diapason d'Or. In 2007, Pollini received the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without orchestra) for his Deutsche Grammophon recording of Chopin's Nocturnes.[21] He was awarded the Praemium Imperiale in 2010,[21][22][53] and entered the Gramophone Hall of Fame in 2012.[54]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Rubinstein referred here to Pollini's "technical powers".[9]
  2. ^ Michelangeli was noted for his Debussy, Ravel, and Beethoven. His many students included Martha Argerich and Ivan Moravec. Harold C. Schonberg criticized him as "a modern pianist who tries to be Romantic."[15]
  3. ^ Later Pollini added Bach to his repertoire.
  4. ^ The recording is Sony S2K 39311.[34][35]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Carrick, Phil. "Maurizio Pollini at 70: International Superstar of the Piano". Music Makers. ABC Classic FM. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b Siek 2017, 158.
  3. ^ Huang, Hao (1998). Music in the 20th century, Volume 2. Armonk NY: M E Sharpe Reference. pp. 472. ISBN 978-0-7656-8012-9.
  4. ^ Allen 2024, ¶15.
  5. ^ Siek 2017, 56.
  6. ^ Siek 2017, 79.
  7. ^ Siek 2017, 158–159.
  8. ^ Hewett, Ivan (14 September 2010). "Maurizio Pollini: ice-man of the ivories". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  9. ^ a b c Siek 2017, 159.
  10. ^ Schonberg, Harold C. (1987). The Great Pianists: From Mozart to the Present. New York: Simon & Schuster. pp. 488. ISBN 978-0-671-63837-5.
  11. ^ a b Wroe, Nicholas (1 January 2011). "Maurizio Pollini: a life in music". The Guardian. London. The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  12. ^ Current Biography Yearbook, Volume 41. New York: H. W. Wilson. 1980. p. 321. ISBN 978-99973-77-03-6.
  13. ^ a b Andry, Peter, Robin Stringer, and Tony Locantro (2008). Inside the Recording Studio: Working with Callas, Rostropovich, Domingo, and the Classical Elite. Lanham MD: Scarecrow Press. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-8108-6026-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Siek 2017, 122–123, 159.
  15. ^ Siek 2017, 122–123.
  16. ^ Morin, Alexander J. (2001). Classical Music: Third Ear: The Essential Listening Companion. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. p. 1134. ISBN 978-0-87930-638-0.
  17. ^ Schonberg, Harold. The Great Pianists from Mozart to the Present (1987 edition)
  18. ^ a b Rockwell, John (13 March 1977). "Pollini — The Prodigy Has Reached Maturity". The New York Times. New York. Archived from the original on 25 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  19. ^ Ehrhardt, Bettina (Director) (2001). A Trail on the Water (Documentary). TDK. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.; Berry 2024, ¶9–11
  20. ^ Jean-Pierre Thiollet, 88 notes pour piano solo, "Solo nec plus ultra", Neva Editions, 2015, p.50. ISBN 978 2 3505 5192 0.
  21. ^ a b c "Maurizio Pollini". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Piano great Maurizio Pollini dies at 82". NHK. 24 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  23. ^ Berry 2024, ¶9–11; Griffiths 2010, 209
  24. ^ Sciannameo 2020, 97.
  25. ^ Nono 2018, 93.
  26. ^ Bonifazi 2016, 75.
  27. ^ a b c d e Brachmann, Jan (23 January 2024). "Maurizio Pollini: a life in music". FAZ (in German). Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  28. ^ Griffiths 2010, 316–317.
  29. ^ Nono 2018, 99–100.
  30. ^ Berry 2024, ¶4.
  31. ^ Griffiths 2010, 12.
  32. ^ Canarina 2010, 107.
  33. ^ a b Gossett 2006, 27, 313–315, 571.
  34. ^ Gossett 2006, 571.
  35. ^ a b Fontana 2023.
  36. ^ Fontana 2023, "Non è triste Venezia".
  37. ^ Pennock, Rob (May 2010). "Maurizio Pollini – The Well-Tempered Clavier (Book I)". classicalsource.com. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  38. ^ a b "Der junge Ludwig" (in German). Deutsche Grammophon. 2007. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  39. ^ Rockwell, John (8 March 1987). "Concert: Abbado Leads Vienna Philharmonic". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  40. ^ Berry 2024, ¶8.
  41. ^ a b Wroe, Nicholas (January 2011). "Maurizio Pollini: A life in music". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  42. ^ Berry 2024, ¶3.
  43. ^ "Chicago Symphony Orchestra Tickets & Events". Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  44. ^ "Pollini, Maurizio". Deutsche Grammophon. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  45. ^ Blum, Wolfgang (8 August 2014). "Spannender Abend mit Chopin-Virtuose". Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  46. ^ Allen 2024.
  47. ^ Addio a Maurizio Pollini (in Italian)
  48. ^ Michener, Charles (3 April 2000). "The Panoramic Pianist". The New Yorker. p. 86. Archived from the original on 19 August 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  49. ^ Siek, Stephen (10 November 2016). A Dictionary for the Modern Pianist. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 189. ISBN 978-0-8108-8880-7. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  50. ^ "Beethoven Complete Piano Sonatas / Pollini" (in German). Deutsche Grammophon. 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  51. ^ Clements, Andrew (22 February 2002). "The Player". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  52. ^ "Pollini Complete Recordings" (in German). Deutsche Grammophon. 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  53. ^ "Actress Loren among Japan art prize winners". Agence France-Presse. 14 September 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  54. ^ "Maurizio Pollini (pianist)". Gramophone. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2012.

Cited sources[edit]

Further reading[edit]

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