Gerhard Oppitz facts for kids
Gerhard Oppitz (born on February 5, 1953) is a famous German classical pianist. He is known for playing many different types of piano music.
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Early Life and Musical Journey
Gerhard Oppitz was born in Frauenau, Germany. He started learning piano at a young age. He had excellent teachers, including Paul Buck, Hugo Steurer, and Wilhelm Kempff. These teachers helped him become a skilled musician.
A Young Professor
In 1981, when he was just 28 years old, Gerhard Oppitz became a professor. He taught at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München (University of Music and Theatre Munich). He was the youngest professor in the history of that school! He still teaches there today, helping new pianists learn and grow.
Winning Big Competitions
Gerhard Oppitz has won important awards for his piano playing. In 1977, when he was 24, he won the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition. This big competition took place in Tel Aviv, Israel. He was the first German musician to win this special award.
Amazing Concerts and Recordings
Gerhard Oppitz is famous for playing many different pieces of music. He often performs entire sets of music by one composer. For example, he has played all the piano works by Franz Schubert and Edvard Grieg. He has also performed all the piano sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
One of his most famous achievements is playing all the works by Johannes Brahms. He also recorded a very difficult piece called the Max Reger Piano Concerto. He played this with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra and conductor Horst Stein.
Awards and Students
In 2009, Gerhard Oppitz received the Brahms-Preis. This award is given to people who have done great things in music, especially related to the composer Johannes Brahms.
He has also taught many talented students. Some of his well-known students include Valentina Babor and Milana Chernyavska.
