"Was simply perfect"

Italian pianist Pollini dies at the age of 82

Over the decades, Pollini has also received numerous prizes, including the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize and the Echo Klassik for his life's work.(Bild: AFP)

Maurizio Pollini, who was voted the "best pianist in the world" in a 1976 critics' poll, has died at the age of 82. La Scala mourns "one of the great musicians of our time". Pollini was also a frequent guest in Austria, for example at the Salzburg Festival.

The architect's son made his breakthrough at the age of 18 when he won the coveted Chopin Competition in Warsaw in 1960. The head of the jury at the time, piano legend Arthur Rubinstein, praised him: "This boy plays the piano better than any of us." He gained further polish from Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, another grand master. The Milanese built a world career on this foundation stone.

This boy plays the piano better than any of us.

Klavier-Legende Arthur Rubinstein über den 18-jährigen Pollini

Critics described his style as unsentimental and intense, perfect and unique, clear in form and brilliant. Piano concertos, sonatas and ballads by Frédéric Chopin, Franz Schubert and Ludwig van Beethoven, solo or in an orchestra - this was one side of Pollini.

Over the decades, however, he also expanded his program to include contemporary music: Luigi Nono, Karlheinz Stockhausen or Pierre Boulez.

Over the decades, Pollini has received numerous prizes, including the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize and the Echo Klassik for his life's work.(Bild: AFP)

Pollini has also played in sports centers and factory halls. He has performed at La Scala, his home stage, no fewer than 168 times over the decades. He gave his last concert there in February last year. Anyone who appreciates a Beethoven quartet is also capable of listening to contemporary music. Pollini put together many of his concert evenings according to this motto.

Even if one or two critics sometimes found the music lacking in expressiveness and excitement, Pollini always set new accents. Over the decades, he has also received numerous prizes, including the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize and the Echo Klassik for his life's work.