The Times, Richard Morrison
Five Stars
Alfred Brendel — pianist, poet, painter, philosopher and, until his death last June, one of the most revered musicians on the planet — deserved a celebration as many-splendoured as his own life. He certainly got one here.
On what would have been his 95th birthday, practically the whole British musical world gathered at the Barbican, either on stage or in the audience, for an epic three and a half hours of music-making. It encompassed tenderness and grandeur, the sublime and the surreal…
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“A galaxy of soloists, most with some personal link to the pianist … made memorable contributions. The cellist Adrian Brendel paid homage to his father’s renowned performances of Liszt in a beautifully poignant account of that composer’s Elegie No 2 with Tim Horton on the piano…”
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All the musicians gave their services to raise money for the Alfred Brendel Young Musicians Trust… Nothing can replace the great man, but his legacy lives on.
Photo credit: Chris Christodoulou