Gregor Benko
Encyclopedia
Gregor Benko is an American writer, lecturer, record producer, and collector-historian whose primary focus is classical piano performance documented on recordings from (or having to do with) the Romantic Era. His work helped lay the groundwork for the "Romantic Revival
," which continued on into the 21st century.
He was the founder, along with Albert Petrak of the International Piano Archives (initially named the International Piano Library but later changed due to state law). Benko managed the non-profit institution for two decades, attracting Spanish virtuosa Alicia de Larrocha
to act as the actual President of the corporation, and building an enormous collection of recordings, scores, memorabilia and associated matter concerning concert pianists. In 1977 Benko donated the collections to the University of Maryland, College Park
, where they formed the nucleus of the International Piano Archives at Maryland.
Perhaps Benko's most hailed achievement to date is the unearthing and publishing of all known recordings of the Polish virtuoso Josef Hofmann, as well as dozens of historic recordings by other "golden age" pianists. He is also credited with rediscovering and bringing back to public awareness the elderly and reclusive Hungarian piano virtuoso Ervin Nyiregyhazi
. The recordings that Benko produced, initially for the International Piano Archives, as well as new recordings he made with Nyiregyhazi that were issued by Columbia Records
, were heatedly discussed for a time due to the pianist's enormous dynamic range and willful interpretive style. Well-regarded critic Harold C. Schonberg
- also a devotee of Romantic pianism - called one of them "a divine madness." Benko had almost no formal education, but credits his close relationships with Schonberg and Frank Cooper
, founder of the Festival of Neglected Romantic Music
at Butler University
, as the most important professional associations in his life, and considers each a mentor.
Benko's later career has included lecturing, articles, reviews, liner notes. He has been engaged for over thirty years in work on a comprehensive biography of Josef Hofmann.
Romantic Revival
The Romantic revival in serious music arose in the 1960s after decades of relatively conservative and traditional offerings by the world’s concert presenting organizations and record companies....
," which continued on into the 21st century.
He was the founder, along with Albert Petrak of the International Piano Archives (initially named the International Piano Library but later changed due to state law). Benko managed the non-profit institution for two decades, attracting Spanish virtuosa Alicia de Larrocha
Alicia de Larrocha
Alicia de Larrocha y de la Calle was a Spanish pianist from Catalonia. One of the great piano legends of the 20th century, Reuters called her "the greatest Spanish pianist in history", Time "one of the world's most outstanding pianists" and The Guardian "the leading Spanish pianist of her...
to act as the actual President of the corporation, and building an enormous collection of recordings, scores, memorabilia and associated matter concerning concert pianists. In 1977 Benko donated the collections to the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, where they formed the nucleus of the International Piano Archives at Maryland.
Perhaps Benko's most hailed achievement to date is the unearthing and publishing of all known recordings of the Polish virtuoso Josef Hofmann, as well as dozens of historic recordings by other "golden age" pianists. He is also credited with rediscovering and bringing back to public awareness the elderly and reclusive Hungarian piano virtuoso Ervin Nyiregyhazi
Ervin Nyíregyházi
Ervin Nyíregyházi was a Hungarian-born American pianist.-Childhood and early career:...
. The recordings that Benko produced, initially for the International Piano Archives, as well as new recordings he made with Nyiregyhazi that were issued by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, were heatedly discussed for a time due to the pianist's enormous dynamic range and willful interpretive style. Well-regarded critic Harold C. Schonberg
Harold C. Schonberg
Harold Charles Schonberg was an American music critic and journalist, most notably for The New York Times. He was the first music critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism...
- also a devotee of Romantic pianism - called one of them "a divine madness." Benko had almost no formal education, but credits his close relationships with Schonberg and Frank Cooper
Frank Cooper
Frank Arthur Cooper was Premier of Queensland from 1942 to 1946 for the Australian Labor Party.He was born on 16 July 1872 at Blayney, New South Wales and died at Kedron, Queensland..-External links:...
, founder of the Festival of Neglected Romantic Music
Festival of Neglected Romantic Music
The Festival of Neglected Romantic Music was founded by musicologist Frank Cooper at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1968.Cooper directed the Festival for the next eleven years, during which time many seminal works of the Romantic era that had not been heard since the 19th century...
at Butler University
Butler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
, as the most important professional associations in his life, and considers each a mentor.
Benko's later career has included lecturing, articles, reviews, liner notes. He has been engaged for over thirty years in work on a comprehensive biography of Josef Hofmann.