Claudio Arrau was a distinguished Chilean-American pianist known for his profound interpretations of a vast range of the classical piano repertoire. Born on February 6, 1903, in Chillán, Chile, Arrau was a child prodigy who began playing the piano at the age of three and performed his first concert at age five. His talents were recognized early, and by the age of eight, he was sent to study in Germany under the tutelage of Martin Krause, a pupil of Franz Liszt. This marked the beginning of a career that would span nearly eight decades, during which Arrau cultivated a reputation for his deeply introspective performances and a refined technique that served the music above any personal flair.

During his illustrious career, Arrau's expansive repertoire included the complete keyboard works of Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Robert Schumann, as well as significant portions of the works of Chopin, Liszt, and Brahms. Noted for his rich tone and sonorous interpretations, Arrau’s recordings have been widely acclaimed, and his performances of the Beethoven piano concertos and sonatas, in particular, are considered benchmarks. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1979 but maintained strong ties with his Chilean heritage throughout his life. Even after his death on June 9, 1991, Claudio Arrau’s legacy continues to inspire both audiences and new generations of pianists who admire the intellectual depth, emotional intensity, and technical mastery he brought to his art. His recorded catalog, which includes the aforementioned releases, remains a testament to one of the twentieth century's greatest pianistic minds.

Genres

Classical Piano

Latin American Classical Piano

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Latest Release

Sonata vol.1 (Remastered 2017)

Ludwig van Beethoven•

Claudio Arrau

Album - 9 Tracks - Released October 31, 2024