This week on Classic 107, we pay tribute to one of the most influential pianists of the 20th century—Alfred Brendel, who passed away last week at the age of 94. In the 1 p.m. hour from Monday, June 23 through Friday, June 27, we’ll be featuring some of his most iconic recordings: a musical journey through Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, and Liszt that captures the depth, elegance, and intellect of a true giant of the keyboard.
Brendel wasn’t just a pianist—he was a philosopher of music, a poet, a provocateur, and a performer whose recordings reshaped the way we hear the classics. Self-taught and singular, he brought clarity, rigour, and a touch of irreverent humour to everything he touched. Whether it was Beethoven’s stormy sonatas or Schubert’s soulful wanderings, Brendel approached each piece with insight and restraint, always in service of the composer’s voice.
Here’s what we’ll be sharing with you this week:
🎹 Monday, June 23 – Beethoven’s “Hammerklavier” Sonata (Op. 106)
We begin with a colossus. The Hammerklavier Sonata is one of Beethoven’s most technically demanding and intellectually complex works. Clocking in at around 45 minutes, it’s a mountaintop of the piano repertoire—and Brendel’s performance is a masterclass in architectural vision and emotional control. Expect grandeur, introspection, and a fugue that could blow your socks off.
🎹 Tuesday, June 24 – Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467
Elegance, charm, and crystalline beauty define this beloved concerto, often nicknamed the “Elvira Madigan” for its appearance in the 1967 Swedish film. Brendel joins forces with Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields to deliver a refined, graceful reading that highlights Mozart’s lyrical warmth and classical poise.
🎹 Wednesday, June 25 – Schubert’s Piano Sonata in A Major, D. 959
Composed in the final months of Schubert’s life, this expansive sonata is full of tenderness, mystery, and sudden drama. Brendel, a supreme Schubertian, captures its emotional range with sensitivity and clarity. The second movement alone—moody, haunting, and transcendent—will stop you in your tracks.
🎹 Thursday, June 26 – Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58
One of Beethoven’s most poetic concertos, the Fourth opens unusually—with the piano entering alone—and goes on to weave lyrical serenity with flashes of heroic defiance. In this recording with the Vienna Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle, Brendel is both commanding and contemplative, a seasoned guide through Beethoven’s unique sound world.
🎹 Friday, June 27 – Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor
We close the week with fire and transcendence. Liszt’s B minor Sonata is a one-movement epic, shifting between turbulence and sublime beauty. Brendel, who began his career as a Liszt specialist, brings analytical clarity and inner fire to a piece that can often be overwhelming. Here, the virtuosity serves the drama, not the other way around.
A Legacy Etched in Sound
Brendel's recordings—especially of Beethoven, Schubert, and Mozart—are considered benchmarks, and his thoughtful, often witty writings continue to inspire musicians and listeners alike. He retired from the stage in 2008, but his music lives on. As we revisit these recordings this week, we invite you to listen not just for brilliance or polish (though there’s plenty of that), but for the quiet wisdom and deep humanity that made Brendel so beloved.
Join us all week long at 1 p.m. as we honour the life, legacy, and unmatched artistry of Alfred Brendel—modest in persona, monumental in impact.
🎧 Tune in on air, online, or through the Classic 107 app—every day at 1 p.m., June 23–27.