Alicia de larocca biography
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She began performing professionally at the age of three and made her first public appearance at the International Exposition in Barcelona when she was just five years old. She also gave a performance of the Concerto for two pianos by Francis Poulenc with the composer playing the second piano part. She premiered or revived many works, especially by Spanish composers.
Despite being relatively short and having small hands for a pianist, Alicia excelled at playing complex musical compositions by Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Sergei Prokofiev, and Maurice Ravel. These pieces have since become part of the standard piano repertoire.
After the death of Frank Marshall, De Larrocha became the Director of the Marshall Academy, continuing one of the most important piano pedagogy legacies in Spain.
Despite having small hands, she performed a wide range of repertoire, including Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3. She started studying piano at an early age stating, “Playing the piano was a form of play, meaning more to me than playing with dolls.” Initially she studied with her aunt, but, at three years old, was accepted by Frank Marshall as a student after demonstrating her talent.
De Larrocha gave her first public performance at the age of five in Barcelona in the International Exposition.
As she grew older, Alicia's repertoire shifted towards the works of Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Alicia de Larrocha
Biography of Alicia de Larrocha
Alicia de Larrocha was born in Catalonia, Spain in 1923. In 2001, she was named Honorary Member of the Foundation for Iberian Music at The City University of New York.
In 1994, her achievements in music were recognized with the Prince of Asturias Award. Alicia's solo piano performances were frequently recorded and enjoyed great success, particularly her interpretations of Spanish melodies. She died in 2009 in Barcelona.
May 23, 1923 - September 25, 2009
"My life’s desire has been to make music, enjoy music and to make people enjoy music"
ALICIA DE LARROCHA
“The acoustics of a concert hall are paramount.
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Alicia de Larrocha's adult career began in 1940, but she did not make any international tours until 1947, when she first toured Europe. He was a disciple of the Spanish composer Enrique Granados and continued his Maestro’s teachings at the Marshall Academy.
De Larrocha the Pianist
De Larrocha never believed in following the standardized path of competitions and was able to develop a career as a concert pianist without following the typical route.
Alicia de Larrocha was a remarkable pianist.
Already available are recordings of W.A. Mozart piano sonatas, works by Robert Schumann, a Spanish recital disc featuring works by Falla and Montsalvatge, and discs featuring songs and dances by Mompou and works by E. Granados.
Alicia de Larrocha herself has been awarded the Paderewski Memorial Medal and the Principe de Asturias prize, an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Michigan, among others, and has been recognised for her talents by the city of Barcelona, the Spanish and French governments, and UNESCO.
In 1969, she worked in Boston, giving concerts as part of the "Peabody Mason Concert" series. She made her first public appearance with a solo recital at the age of five, and was soloist with Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid at the age of 11, performing W.A. Mozart's "Coronation" Concerto (K. She recorded for labels such as Hispavox, CBS/Columbia/Epic, BMG/RCA, and London/Decca.
Awards and Later Years
Alicia de Larrocha won her first Grammy in 1975 and received her final one in 1992, at the age of almost 70.
Since then she has developed an intensive international career, and is now recognised as an artist of outstanding interpretative insight.