Ivan Moravec facts for kids
Ivan Moravec (born November 9, 1930 – died July 27, 2015) was a famous Czech concert pianist. He played and recorded music for almost 50 years! Many people, including critics, called him "a poet of the piano" because of his beautiful playing. He is known as one of the best players of music by Chopin.
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Life and Career of Ivan Moravec
Ivan Moravec was born in Prague, which is the capital city of the Czech Republic. When he was a child, he loved opera and often went to shows with his father. His dad was a musician too, playing the piano and singing. He helped Ivan learn to read music and sing opera songs.
Ivan started learning piano with a teacher named Erna Grünfeld. When he was 20, he went to the Prague Conservatory to study music even more. Later, he studied at the Prague Academy of Arts. In 1957, a famous pianist named Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli heard Ivan play. He was so impressed that he invited Ivan to special classes in Italy.
Starting an International Career
In the late 1950s, a recording of Ivan playing in Prague was shared in America. Soon, a small American record company called Connoisseur Society became interested in him. In 1962, Ivan traveled to New York to make his first recordings for them. Then, in 1964, a famous conductor named George Szell asked Ivan to play with the Cleveland Orchestra. This was a big moment that helped start Ivan's international career.
Moravec's Music and Teaching
Ivan Moravec played many important piano pieces by composers like Chopin, Debussy, Beethoven, and Mozart. He also played music by Czech composers. He performed with many of the world's best symphony orchestras. His concert list included over a dozen piano concertos (pieces for piano and orchestra) by composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, and Ravel.
Besides performing, Ivan also taught music in Prague. He often gave special teaching classes called master classes when he was traveling for concerts. You can even hear Ivan Moravec playing a part of Mozart's Piano Concerto in E-flat in the 1984 movie Amadeus, which is about Mozart's life!
Caring for Pianos
Ivan Moravec was known for paying close attention to the pianos he played. He wanted them to sound their best. He would bring a small bag with special tools to help adjust the piano's sound. He would work with the local piano technician, listening carefully for any notes that sounded too harsh or too weak. He would then ask for gentle changes to make the piano sound perfect.
Ivan Moravec passed away on July 27, 2015, in Prague. He was 84 years old.
Awards and Honors
Ivan Moravec received many important awards for his amazing musical talent:
- In 2010, The New York Times newspaper chose his 1965 recording of Chopin's Nocturnes as one of the best works to celebrate 200 years since Chopin's birth.
- In 2000, he received the Charles IV Prize. This is the highest award in the Czech Republic for helping humanity.
- Also in 2000, the Czech President Václav Havel gave him the Medal of Merit for his outstanding artistic achievements.
- In 2002, Ivan won the Cannes Classical Award for his lifetime achievements in music.
- In 2004, he received more Cannes Classical Awards.
- In 1974 and 1975, he won the Wiener Flötenuhr – Preis der Mozartgemeinde Wien for his recordings of Mozart's piano concertos.
- In 1976, he won the American Stereo Review's Record of the Year Award for his recording of Schumann's Piano Concerto.
Discography (Recordings)
Ivan Moravec made many recordings throughout his career. His recordings for the Connoisseur Society are famous for their excellent sound quality. Most of these recordings are still available today on CDs.
He also recorded for other companies like Vox, Nonesuch, Dorian, Hänssler, and Supraphon. In 1998, a special collection of his recordings was released as part of the "Great Pianists of the 20th Century" series by Philips. Critics from The Times newspaper praised his Chopin Nocturnes recording for its "extraordinary dynamic shading and gracious shaping of each gemlike work."
Here are some of his selected recordings:
- Chopin: Nocturnes, vol. 1, Connoisseur Society (1966)
- Chopin: Nocturnes, vol. 2, Connoisseur Society (1966)
- Moravec plays Chopin, Connoisseur Society (1969)
- Debussy: Preludes, Clair de lune, Children's Corner Suite, Connoisseur Society (1967)
- Piano Works—Debussy: Jardins sous la Pluie, Suite, La Puerta del Vino, Ondine, Feuilles mortes, Ravel: Sonatine, Athena Records (1990)
See also
In Spanish: Ivan Moravec para niños
