Gustav Leonhardt (1928 - 2012) is represented by Rayfield Allied inexclusively.

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Gustav Leonhardt (1928 - 2012)

Harpsichord

  • Leonhardt considered the way that the composer might have experienced his music: a simple sound, a clean line and minimal ornamentation. He unearthed expressive qualities that had disappeared under the weight of romantic-style performances.
    The Telegraph

  • Gustav Leonhardt was one of the pioneering musicians of the twentieth century, leading the movement to restore historical awareness and period style to performances of baroque music.  In the process he shone new light on a wide range of rediscovered repertoire.

    Born in Holland, Gustav Leonhardt grew up in a musical household and became interested in the harpsichord and organ at an early age. Leonhardt studied both instruments under Eduard Müller at the Basle Schola Cantorum, made his concert debut in Vienna and in l952 was appointed Professor at the Vienna State Academy of Music. In l955 he relinquished this position in order to return to Amsterdam where he was organist of the Nieuwe Kerk and taught at the Conservatoire. His international concert career took him all around the world. In l969 he held the H. A. Lamb chair at Harvard University.
     
    As harpsichord-organist-conductor Gustav Leonhardt made over 180 records. He also conducted performances of Monteverdi and Rameau operas. As a musicologist he published a study of Bach’s Art of Fugue and edited Sweelinck’s Keyboard Works. He played the title role in Jean-Marie Straub’s Bach film, and in 1980 received the European Erasmus Prize and Honorary Doctorates in l983, l984, l991, 1998 and 2000.

    Gustav Leonhardt (1928 - 2012) is represented by Rayfield Allied inexclusively.
    This biography is for information only and should not be reproduced.

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