Dennis Hennig facts for kids

Dennis Hennig (born February 28, 1951 – died January 17, 1993) was a talented Australian pianist. He was known for his amazing musical skills and his dedication to classical music. He performed in many concerts and made several recordings during his career.

The Life of Dennis Hennig

Early Career and Ballet Music

Dennis Hennig started his musical journey at a young age. Early in his career, he worked with The Australian Ballet. He was one of the pianists who played music for their rehearsal classes. Later, he performed live music for actual ballet shows. Some of these performances included Signatures, An Evening, and Seven Deadly Sins. He also shared his knowledge by teaching music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Working with Composers and Film

Dennis Hennig was highly respected by other musicians. A famous Australian composer named Ross Edwards even dedicated his Piano Concerto (a special piece for piano and orchestra) to Hennig. Dennis Hennig was the first person to perform this concerto in 1983. He played it with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. He also recorded this important piece of music.

Dennis Hennig made many other recordings throughout his life. He was working on a big project to record all the piano music by a composer named Cyril Scott. Sadly, he only finished two CDs before he passed away. He also wrote about the music of another composer, Charles-Valentin Alkan. Besides classical concerts, Dennis Hennig played the piano for the music in Jane Campion's first film, Two Friends.

His Legacy

Dennis Hennig passed away in early 1993 at age 41 due to a health condition. To remember his amazing talent and contributions to music, a special medal is given out in his memory. This medal is awarded at the important Sydney International Piano Competition.

Notable Recordings

Dennis Hennig's recordings include many important classical pieces. Here are some of them:

• Ross Edwards: Piano Concerto (with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra) – This was the very first recording of this piece ever made.
• Franz Liszt (arranged by Karl Tausig): Symphonic poems like Tasso, Hamlet, and Les préludes. These were also world premiere recordings.
• Bohuslav Martinů: Sinfonietta giocosa for piano and orchestra (with the Australian Chamber Orchestra).
• Cyril Scott: Various piano pieces, including his Piano Sonata No. 1.
• Richard Wagner (arranged by Tausig): Excerpts from famous operas like Tristan und Isolde.
• "Pianistic Peccadilloes": A collection of selected pieces by various composers. This included works by Bach, Mozart, Grainger, and Gershwin.