Description
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (1920–1995) was born in Brescia, Italy. In 1939, he won first prize in the Geneva International Piano Competition, where he was acclaimed as ‘a new Liszt’ by pianist Alfred Cortot, a member of the judging panel. His recordings of Ravel and Debussy were considered essential for any collection. Any recording featuring Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli is an important event because he recorded very little in the studio. This live SWR recording from the Ludwigsburg Festival in 1956 shows a Mozart style far removed from that presented today. These are full-blooded interpretations and show Michelangeli with a very strong forward drive. The recording made by SWR is of excellent quality, showcasing Michelangeli’s superb playing. These two concertos were performed throughout Michelangeli’s career, but the recording here was made when he was thirty-six years old and at the peak of his powers.
