Acclaimed Pianist Maurizio Pollini Dies Age 82

Maurizio Pollini smiling with a dark background. — Maurizio Pollini (Photo: York Christoph Riccius / DG)

Considered one of the 20th century’s giants of the keyboard, Maurizio Pollini died at a clinic in Milan last Saturday at the age of 82. Pollini has been a fixture in the classical music world ever since he won the Chopin Competition at the age of 19. He was championed by fellow pianists Artur Rubinstein and Daniel Barenboim, who noted his high ethical regard for music. Pollini’s recent death has been mourned by classical musicians and fans the world over.

Catch-up: The Italian pianist Maurizio Pollini was considered a specialist in the works of Chopin. He also championed and premiered Modernist repertoire, including works by Luigi Nono and Pierre Boulez. For the Deutsche Grammophon label, Pollini recorded works by Stravinsky and Prokofiev, as well as Schoenberg’s piano works, Chopin études and Beethoven’s late sonatas.

Digging deeper: Pollini’s piano playing was widely acclaimed, although it also sparked controversy. His early reviews complained of a lack of poetry in his cool interpretations, although he grew to develop a reputation for elegant and modern playing. Pollini was also a member of the Italian Communist Party and an outspoken anti-fascist in the 1960s who believed that society could not exist without art. He is remembered for the mix of intellectualism and artistry he brought to the piano.

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Sara Schabas

Sara Schabas is a Dora-nominated soprano, writer and yoga teacher. She has performed and created leading roles with companies including Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, the Dayton Opera, and Aspen Opera, and is a former member of Barbara Hannigan’s Equilibrium Young Artists. Currently based in Montreal, she is a doctoral student at McGill University — where she recently received the Wirth Vocal Prize — and editor of Art Song Canada magazine.