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Edith Picht-Axenfeld

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edith Picht-Axenfeld (1 January 1914 in Freiburg im Breisgau[1] – 19 April 2001 in Hinterzarten[2]) was a German pianist and harpsichordist.

Career

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She started her concert career in 1935, and took part two years later in the III International Chopin Piano Competition, when she was awarded the sixth prize;[3][4] this launched her career. After the Second World War, Picht-Axenfeld performed at an intercontinental level, was active as a chamber musician and recorded for labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, Philips and Erato.[3] RCA released an LP with Chopin's Études op. 10 and op. 25 with Picht-Axenfeld.[5]

Picht-Axenfeld married the professor for philosophy Georg Picht in 1936.[4] They had seven children, among them Robert Picht.[6]

Influence as a teacher

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She taught at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg im Breisgau from 1947 to 1979.[4] Many pianists, and also composers like Manfred Stahnke, explicitly mention her as an important influence.[7]

Recordings

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Her 1968 recording of the Goldberg Variations[8][9] is often considered as a point of reference and there obviously is still a fan base that has uploaded many full albums to YouTube.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Adam, Johannes (31 December 2013). "Edith Picht-Axenfeld, Bachs Botschafterin". Badische Zeitung (in German). Freiburg. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Edith Picht-Axenfeld". Der Spiegel (in German). Hamburg. 30 April 2001. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b Dybowski, Stanisław. "Fryderyk Chopin - Information Centre - Edith Picht-Axenfeld - Biography". en.chopin.nifc.pl. Archived from the original on 2021-07-05. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  4. ^ a b c Budde, Elmar (2016). "Picht-Axenfeld, Edith". In Lütteken, Laurenz (ed.). MGG Online. Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  5. ^ OCLC 909206132
  6. ^ Brachmann, Jens (2015). Reformpädagogik zwischen Re-Education, Bildungsexpansion und Missbrauchsskandal: Die Geschichte der Vereinigung Deutscher Landerziehungsheime 1947-2012. Julius Klinkhardt. p. 135. ISBN 9783781520677.
  7. ^ Kreutziger-Herr, Annette; Wilson, Peter Niklas (2007). "Manfred Stahnke". KDG Online. Komponisten der Gegenwart. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  8. ^ "complete Goldberg Variations BWV 988". Youtube. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  9. ^ OCLC 727050629
  10. ^ "Edith Picht-Axenfeld on Youtube". Youtube Search.
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