Lili Kraus was a Hungarian-born pianist who became widely recognized for her proficient interpretations of classical and early romantic period pieces, especially the works of Mozart and Beethoven. Born in Budapest on April 3, 1903, Kraus studied at the Budapest Academy of Music under notable instructors including Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály, and later in Vienna with Artur Schnabel. Her performing career took flight in the 1930s, and she gained international acclaim for her engrossing performances and recordings.

Despite her career being interrupted by World War II, during which she was interned in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp, Kraus resumed her vocation with undiminished vigor following her release in 1945. Kraus tirelessly toured the globe, and her recordings from the post-war period through to the 1970s were instrumental in building her legacy as a leading interpreter of classical piano repertoire. Not only a solo artist, but she also engaged in chamber music and played under the baton of some of the most illustrious conductors of her time. Kraus passed away on November 6, 1986, but the ongoing releases of her historic performances, such as those listed above, stand as a testament to her musical prowess and her critical role in shaping the interpretation of classical piano music.

Genres

Historic Piano Performance

Hungarian Classical Piano

Latest Release

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 19 & 26 "Coronation"

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart•

Lili Kraus•

Wiener Symphoniker

Ep - 6 Tracks - Released August 4, 2023