Claude Frank
Encyclopedia
Claude Frank is a German-born, American Jewish pianist
whose career has included appearances with highly reputed orchestras, at major festivals, and in major recital halls around the world. Born December 24, 1925 in Nuremberg, Germany, Frank studied at the Paris Conservatoire; worked with Artur Schnabel
in New York, for whom he first played in Europe;, studied with Schnabel's last and favourite pupil, Maria Curcio
and studied composition and conducting at Columbia University
. At Tanglewood
he studied with Serge Koussevitzky. He has performed worldwide as a soloist
with distinguished orchestras, touring the Orient, Australia, Europe, Israel and South America, and in chamber music concerts. A milestone in his career was RCA
's release of his recordings of the 32 Beethoven piano sonata
s and his worldwide performances of the cycle.
He has appeared in joint concerts with his wife, pianist Lillian Kallir (1931–2004), and, in recent years, with his daughter, the renowned violin
ist Pamela Frank
(born 1967). Frank serves on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, and presents master classes at Yale University
, Duke University
, the University of Kansas
, and the North Carolina School of the Arts among many others. He has been on the piano faculty of the Yale School of Music
since 1973.
Claude Frank has written his memoirs with co-author Hawley Roddick: The Music That Saved My Life: From Hitler's Germany to the World's Concert Stages. Under submission for publication by their literary agent, it is a story rich in details about European and musical history, tracing Frank's career from days as a protégée of Artur Schnabel
to those as a teacher of Richard Goode
. More recently, he performed alongside nine other legendary pianists at “The Olympic Centenary Piano Extravaganza of China” in Beijing, China.
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
whose career has included appearances with highly reputed orchestras, at major festivals, and in major recital halls around the world. Born December 24, 1925 in Nuremberg, Germany, Frank studied at the Paris Conservatoire; worked with Artur Schnabel
Artur Schnabel
Artur Schnabel was an Austrian classical pianist, who also composed and taught. Schnabel was known for his intellectual seriousness as a musician, avoiding pure technical bravura...
in New York, for whom he first played in Europe;, studied with Schnabel's last and favourite pupil, Maria Curcio
Maria Curcio
Maria Curcio was an Italian classical pianist who became renowned as a greatly influential and sought-after teacher. Her students included Martha Argerich, Radu Lupu, Dame Mitsuko Uchida, Leon Fleisher and Geoffrey Tozer...
and studied composition and conducting at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. At Tanglewood
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is an estate and music venue in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. It was the venue of the Berkshire Festival.- History...
he studied with Serge Koussevitzky. He has performed worldwide as a soloist
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
with distinguished orchestras, touring the Orient, Australia, Europe, Israel and South America, and in chamber music concerts. A milestone in his career was RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
's release of his recordings of the 32 Beethoven piano sonata
Piano sonata
A piano sonata is a sonata written for a solo piano. Piano sonatas are usually written in three or four movements, although some piano sonatas have been written with a single movement , two movements , five or even more movements...
s and his worldwide performances of the cycle.
He has appeared in joint concerts with his wife, pianist Lillian Kallir (1931–2004), and, in recent years, with his daughter, the renowned violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist Pamela Frank
Pamela Frank
Pamela Frank is an American violinist, equally well known as a soloist and as a proponent of chamber music.-Biography:She was born in New York City, the daughter of two pianists, Claude Frank and Lilian Kallir. She studied under Shirley Givens using the Givens Method, unlike many of her...
(born 1967). Frank serves on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music
Curtis Institute of Music
The Curtis Institute of Music is a conservatory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that offers courses of study leading to a performance Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in Opera, and Professional Studies Certificate in Opera. According to statistics compiled by U.S...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, and presents master classes at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
, and the North Carolina School of the Arts among many others. He has been on the piano faculty of the Yale School of Music
Yale School of Music
The Yale School of Music is one of the twelve professional schools at Yale University and one of the premier music conservatories in the world....
since 1973.
Claude Frank has written his memoirs with co-author Hawley Roddick: The Music That Saved My Life: From Hitler's Germany to the World's Concert Stages. Under submission for publication by their literary agent, it is a story rich in details about European and musical history, tracing Frank's career from days as a protégée of Artur Schnabel
Artur Schnabel
Artur Schnabel was an Austrian classical pianist, who also composed and taught. Schnabel was known for his intellectual seriousness as a musician, avoiding pure technical bravura...
to those as a teacher of Richard Goode
Richard Goode
Richard Goode is an American classical pianist, especially known for his interpretations of Ludwig van Beethoven and chamber music.Goode was born in East Bronx, New York...
. More recently, he performed alongside nine other legendary pianists at “The Olympic Centenary Piano Extravaganza of China” in Beijing, China.