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Nelson Freire: Brazilian master pianist died at the age of 77

2021-11-02T15:45:48.338Z


He was considered one of the great interpreters of Beethoven and Chopin - and for years refused to record their works in the studio. Nelson Freire has now died at the age of 77.


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Pianist Freire (2005): Exceptionally empathetic

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PASCAL GUYOT / AFP

He was considered one of the best pianists in the world, played in dozens of countries, often together with the Argentine pianist Martha Argerich.

Now the Brazilian pianist Nelson Freire has died in Rio de Janeiro.

The Brazilian media reported on Monday, citing his agent.

The cause of the artist's death was initially not known.

Born in 1944 in the state of Minas Gerais, Freire first performed at the age of five.

After taking seventh place at the piano competition in Rio at the age of twelve, he received a scholarship to study in Vienna.

At the age of 24, Freire made his debut with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

"Time Magazine" described him as "one of the greatest pianists of this generation or another".

He has won prizes and awards, played with orchestras such as the Berlin, Vienna and St. Petersburg Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra, and was one of the great interpreters of Ludwig van Beethoven and Frédéric Chopin.

Critics praised Freire's extraordinary technique, sonority and sensitivity.

For decades he refused to make recordings because, in his opinion, music should be played live in front of an audience. In the 2000s, however, he began to record music again - such as works by Claude Debussy. For his album of Brahms concerts with the Gewandhausorchester in Leipzig, Freire received the 2007 Gramophone Award in the CD of the Year category, and the 2012 Grammy Latino for "Brasileiro" with works by Heitor Villa-Lobos, among others.

Personally, the pianist has been described as shy and discreet.

"If I have to speak, it's a problem," he joked.

Freire expressed himself through music, the piano was his friend - or it wasn't.

One of the most famous scenes in the documentary "Nelson Freire" by Brazilian filmmaker João Moreira Salles is the one in which Freire in the Sala São Paulo comes to the conclusion that the piano there doesn't like him.

"The music was everything to him"

In 2019, Freire fell on the promenade in Rio.

He broke his arm and had an operation.

Since then he has not given a concert or made a recording.

According to companions, the accident had a significant impact on Freire's mental health.

"Nelson fell into a deep depression," said the Brazilian pianist João Martins of the newspaper "O Globo".

"I think this depression was stronger than he could take because music was everything to him."

Nelson Freire was 77 years old.

sak / dpa

Source: spiegel

All life articles on 2021-11-02

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