Karl Engel facts for kids
Karl (Rudolf) Engel (born in Birsfelden, Switzerland, on June 1, 1923 – died in Chernex, Switzerland, on September 2, 2006) was a famous Swiss pianist. He was known for his amazing musical talent.
Engel won second prize at the important Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in 1952. Throughout his career, he performed many different types of music. He especially loved playing pieces by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Robert Schumann. He also taught music at a university for 30 years.
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Early Life and Musical Training
Karl Engel began his musical journey at a young age. He studied piano at the Basel Conservatory from 1942 to 1945. His teacher there was Paul Baumgartner. After World War II, he continued his studies in Paris. From 1947 to 1948, he learned from Alfred Cortot at the École Normale de Musique de Paris. These studies helped him become a skilled pianist.
A Career on Stage
Karl Engel traveled all over the world to perform. He played as a solo artist with big orchestras. He also gave solo concerts and played chamber music with small groups. He became very famous for playing all of Mozart's piano concertos. He performed these between 1974 and 1976. He also played all of Mozart's and Beethoven's piano sonatas.
Famous Collaborations
Engel was also a wonderful accompanist. This means he played the piano while singers performed. He often played with famous singers like Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Hermann Prey, Peter Schreier, and Brigitte Fassbaender. He also played chamber music with other great musicians. These included cellist Pablo Casals and violinist Yehudi Menuhin. He also performed with the Melos Quartet.
Teaching and Master Classes
From 1958 to 1986, Karl Engel was a piano professor. He taught at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hannover in Germany. He was a beloved teacher for many years. He also led special master classes. These classes helped advanced students improve their skills. He taught these classes in France, Canada, and Portugal. After 1989, he led master classes in Switzerland and other countries.
Recordings
Karl Engel made many recordings of his music. He recorded all of Mozart's piano music. He also recorded all of Robert Schumann's piano works. He made many recordings with the famous singers he performed with. One notable recording was of Stravinsky's Piano Concerto.
Family
Karl Engel had a son named Till Engel. Born in 1951, Till also became a pianist. He is a professor at the Folkwang Hochschule Essen in Germany.
