Radu Lupu - Biography

Radu Lupu (born November 30, 1945) is a Romanian concert pianist. He has won a number of the most prestigious awards in classical piano, including first prizes in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition.

1 Life
2 Concerts and recordings
3 Personal life
4 Awards and prizes
5 External links

Life

Lupu was born in Galaţi, the son of Meyer Lupu and Ana Gabor. He began piano as a six-year old (with Lia Busuioceanu), making his public debut at age 12, in a concert featuring his own compositions. After completing high school in Galaţi, and graduating from the Popular School for the Arts in Braşov, Lupu continued his studies at the Bucharest Conservatory with Florica Musicescu (who also taught Dinu Lipatti), and Cella Delavrancea. In 1961, he was awarded a scholarship to the Moscow P.I. Tchaikovsky State Conservatory, where he studied with Galina Eghyazarova, Heinrich Neuhaus (who also taught Sviatoslav Richter and Emil Gilels), and Stanislav Neuhaus.

Concerts and recordings

Lupu's concert appearances and recordings for Decca, though not frequent, consisting of a limited repertoire, have been consistently acclaimed. Although trained in the Russian pianistic tradition, he is particularly noted for his interpretations of the great 19th century German and Austrian composers, especially Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart from the 18th century. He is also noted for performances of works by the Czech Leoš Janáček, and the Hungarian Béla Bartók.

Lupu made his American debut in 1972 with the Cleveland Orchestra, with Daniel Barenboim conducting in New York City, and with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, with Carlo Maria Giulini conducting. Whilst Lupu has performed with all of the major orchestras of the world and at major music festivals, he is a somewhat reclusive figure. He has regularly refused to grant interviews to journalists for over 30 years. In one rare published interview, originally from 1991, Lupu expressed his philosophy of music-making as follows:

Everyone tells a story differently, and that story should be told compellingly and spontaneously. If it is not compelling and convincing, it is without value.

In his concert performances, Lupu does not use a piano bench, but instead an office chair. Lupu has participated in notable chamber music partnerships with, among others, the violinist Szymon Goldberg, the soprano Barbara Hendricks, and his fellow pianist, Murray Perahia.

Personal life

He currently resides in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Awards and prizes

1966. First Place in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
1969. First Place in the George Enescu International.
1969. First Place in the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition.
1989. Abbiati prize awarded by the Italian Critics' Association.
1995. Edison Award for Schumann: Kinderszenen, Kreisleriana and Humoresque
1996. Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance for Schubert: Piano Sonatas (B Flat Major and A Major).
2006. Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli prize.