Radu Lupu

Radu Lupu was a celebrated Romanian pianist.

He was widely recognized as one of the greatest pianists of his era. Lupu was born in Galați, Romania, on November 30, 1945. He was the son of Meyer Lupu, an attorney, and Ana Gabor, a linguist. From his earliest childhood, Lupu expressed himself through singing. He received his first piano at the age of five. This early connection to sound set the stage for his musical life.

Lupu's musical education was deep and varied. He began formal piano studies in 1951 at age six with Lia Busuioceanu. Initially, Lupu viewed himself as a composer. He believed he would one day be a famous composer. However, he changed his focus about four years later. He decided he would be much better as a pianist. He studied harmony and counterpoint with Victor Bickerich in Brașov. He then attended the Bucharest Conservatory from 1959 to 1961. There, he studied with Florica Musicescu and Cella Delavrancea.

In 1961, Lupu moved to the Soviet Union. He was awarded a scholarship to the Moscow Conservatory at age 16.

He studied there for seven years until his graduation in 1969. His teachers included Galina Eguiazarova and Heinrich Neuhaus. He also studied with Stanislav Neuhaus. Lupu also learned from Maria Curcio. He described his learning process as somewhat autodidactic. He felt he learned much by listening to many different conductors and musicians.

Major international competitions launched Lupu's global career. Between 1966 and 1969, he won three prestigious prizes. In 1966, he won the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. During this win, he received special prizes for his work on commissioned pieces. He also performed a "fiery and thunderous" movement of a Prokofiev concerto. In 1967, he won the George Enescu International Piano Competition. Finally, in 1969, he won the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition. These victories allowed him to perform with major orchestras worldwide.

Lupu was a prolific recording artist. From 1970 to 1993, he made over 20 recordings for Decca Records. His solo work included pieces by Beethoven, Brahms, Grieg, Mozart, Schubert, and Schumann. He recorded all of Beethoven's piano concertos. He also recorded nine Schubert sonatas and various works by Schumann. Lupu also excelled in chamber music, which is music played by a small group. He recorded Mozart's violin and piano sonatas with Szymon Goldberg. He also recorded Debussy and Franck works with Kyung Wha Chung.

Critics often praised Lupu for his unique musical voice. While some early reviews were critical of his style, his reputation grew steadily. In 1972, a critic noted his performance of Beethoven was bold and penetrating. By 1981, he had performed with every major orchestra. His 1982 recording of Schubert's Impromptus was highly acclaimed. Reviewers noted his "singing tone" and his ability to capture the essence of the music. He was described by some as a master of the most satisfying kind.

Lupu received many prestigious awards throughout his life. In 1989 and 2006, he won the Franco Abbiati Prize. In 1995, he won an Edison Award for his Schumann recordings. He also won a Grammy Award in 1996 for his Schubert piano sonatas. In 2006, he received the Premio Internazionale Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. In 2016, he was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). These honors recognized his immense services to the world of music. Lupu's career remains a significant part of modern piano history.