FLASHBACK FRIDAY AND HALLOWEEN ASTROMANTRA Edward Kilenyi was an extraordinary pianist possessing an equally impressive intellect. His repertoire was massive. He spoke and read literature in Hungarian, French and German, fluently. It was rumored Kilenyis mastery of Shakespeare once prompted (from the audience) a memory-stricken actor when the poor chap couldnt remember his lines on stage. Urban legends surrounding him were legendary. Kilenyi was the first pianist to offer the complete 32 Beethoven Sonatas in recital whereupon the audience would vote and thereby select four sonatas to be played that evening. Has another pianist dared to undertake that feat since? As a student, I recall Kilenyi performing the complete GOLDBERG VARIATIONS, on the harpsichord---twice in one evening. There were so many people who turned up for the first recital, he honored the public with another recital immediately following the first for those who were turned away. Amazing. Kilenyi was one of the first recipients of the coveted Grand Prix du Disque awarded in 1939 for his historic recording of Liszts TOTENTANZ. He was decorated the Liszt Centennial Medal by the Hungarian government in 1986. Kilenyi was responsible for vindicating George Solti from ties with Nazi Germany, subsequently helping launch Maestro Soltis meteoric career as a conductor. He also helped his mentor, pianist-composer-conductor, Ernst von Dohnanyi, after WWII, as well. I was a student in the Kilenyi studio from 1973 until 1980. Those of us who had the supreme opportunity to study with the master will never forget those nerve-wracked lessons, sweating bullets, enduring his caustic critiques, yet in adoration cast under the spell of his uncompromising guidance and supreme mastery that brought out our own genius. Here is Kilenyis Grand Prix du Disque macabre rendition of Liszts TOTENTANZ, The Dance of Death.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 21:05:47 +0000
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