Ignaz Friedman short biography

One of the most outstanding pianist of the first half of the 20^th Century, Ignaz Friedman studied with the famous pedagogue Theodor Leschetizky. In 1904, Friedman had his first appearance in Vienna with a program of 3 piano concertos and several solo compositions. The critics called him ‘Titan of Piano’. Always sitting still and motionless, almost aristocratic at the piano, Friedman’s style was based on a prodigious virtuosity and a sense of rhythm and color. Friedman was especially famous for his peerless performances of Chopin’s music. Friedman was also a productive composer who wrote a hundred piano miniatures. Friedman arrangements of Bach and Scarlatti have been considered masterpieces of the genre. Friedman’s editions of the complete works of Chopin, Schumann and Liszt have been used by many modern pianists.