Peter Frankl facts for kids

Peter Frankl (born October 2, 1935) is a famous Hungarian-born British pianist. He is known for playing music from different time periods, especially the Classical period (like Mozart), the Romantic period, and the early Modern period. He has recorded all the solo piano music by composers like Debussy and Schumann.

Who is Peter Frankl?

Peter Frankl is a highly respected pianist who has performed all over the world. He is known for his beautiful playing and his wide range of music. He has played with many top orchestras and conductors.

Early Life and Training

Peter Frankl started his music journey by studying at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary. After his studies, he entered several piano competitions in the late 1950s. He even received an honorable mention at the V International Chopin Piano Competition, which is a very important piano contest. He also learned from Maria Curcio, who was a special student of the famous pianist Artur Schnabel.

Performing Around the World

Peter Frankl made his first big concert appearance in London in 1962. A few years later, in 1967, he performed in New York with the Cleveland Orchestra. Since then, he has played as a soloist (meaning he plays by himself with an orchestra) with many different orchestras and conductors. He has also been a special guest at many international music festivals. For example, he played the Britten piano concerto at the Edinburgh International Festival, with the composer Benjamin Britten himself conducting the orchestra!

Playing with Others

Besides playing as a soloist, Peter Frankl also loves chamber music. This is music played by a small group of musicians. A long-lasting music group was formed with Peter Frankl, his fellow Hungarian violinist György Pauk, and the American cellist Ralph Kirshbaum. This trio played together for many years. To celebrate their 25th anniversary in 1997, the BBC (a big broadcasting company) asked a composer named James MacMillan to write a special piece of music for them called Fourteen Little Pictures.

Teaching Music

Today, Peter Frankl shares his musical knowledge with new generations of musicians. He is a Professor of Piano at the Yale School of Music in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. He also teaches online Masterclasses through iClassical Academy, helping students from all over the world learn from his experience.

See also

In Spanish: Peter Frankl para niños