Grammy-winning pianist Earl Wild dies at 94

[Manifestor_of_Light]

Source: MSNBC

NEW YORK - Grammy-winning pianist Earl Wild, who learned his craft from students of Liszt and Ravel and became one of America's masters of the keyboard, has died at age 94. Wild died of congestive heart disease Saturday at his home in Palm Springs, Calif., publicist Mary Lou Falcone said Monday.

In all, Wild recorded more than 35 piano concertos and 700 solo pieces. In 1937, he joined the NBC Symphony as a staff pianist, performing under Arturo Toscanini. During an NBC broadcast two years later, he became the first pianist to give a solo recital on American television. Wild went on to perform in countless orchestras, including those led by Fritz Reiner and Otto Klemperer.

He also played and wrote music for comedian Sid Caesar for three years and performed for six American presidents, from Herbert Hoover to Lyndon Johnson.

Born in Pittsburgh, Wild started playing the piano at age 3 and studied with teachers who were taught by Ravel, Ignace Jan Paderewski and Ferruccio Busoni. Two of his other teachers studied with pupils of Liszt.
His earliest musical memories dated to 1918, when his mother brought home a recording of the opera "Norma."



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35058192/ns/entertainment-celebrities/

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An amazing pianist. If you haven't heard any of his many CDs, you are missing something.

(I say this as someone who took 12 years of piano lessons, starting at age five. I also saw Arthur Rubinstein perform a full recital at the tender age of 82.)

[Faygo Kid]

1. He was one of the best.

My ex-father-in-law who passed away a few years ago was a big fan.

[stopbush]

2. As if the Grammy Awards have any meaning whatsoever to a classical musician.

I say that as a classical musician who is a member of NARAS and votes on the Grammies.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

3. Yeah they are irrelevant.

I hate it when people rant about how great the latest crossover artist is.
I tell people that Andrea Bocelli is not an opera singer because he doesn't have the right technique. He seems to just let his mouth hang loose a lot. Of course these pop fans don't get it.

And Pavarotti was a great tenor back in the 1970s but he sadly turned into a caricature with one volume level -- BLAST.

And don't get me started on musicals. I have a CD recording of West Side Story with Kiri te Kanawa and Jose Carreras. It's really stiff.

The original cast album with Carol Lawrence is the good version.