Pianist Stephen Kovacevich, known for his recordings of the Viennese Classical repertoire, passed away on October 27 at the age of 86. Based in London, he suffered a stroke 20 years ago but, through determined effort, managed to regain his playing ability and resume his performance career.
Born in Los Angeles to Croatian parents, he made his debut in San Francisco at the age of 11. At 18, he moved to the United Kingdom to study under Myra Hess, subsequently basing his career in London.
His international career began in 1961, when he made his debut at Wigmore Hall at the age of 21. In 1965, he garnered significant attention with a performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor,” conducted by Colin Davis, and in 1967, he made his New York debut.
He specializes in the German Romantic repertoire—including Beethoven, Schubert, and Brahms—and has established a distinctive style in his performances of Beethoven; he allows his emotions to flow naturally within the music, employing subtle *tempo rubato*—particularly at points where the musical ideas shift—to create a unique, fluid progression.
Numerous recordings exist, including a complete cycle of Beethoven’s piano sonatas. A recording of Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 1, performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Wolfgang Sawallisch, received multiple awards, while a recording of Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 2, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Davis, won an Edison Award.
From 1984 onwards, he also began a career as a conductor, collaborating regularly with ensembles such as the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the London Mozart Players, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He has also been appointed as Principal Guest Conductor of the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
He was also well-known as an avid tennis enthusiast and for his relationships with cellist Jacqueline du Pré and pianist Martha Argerich—with the latter, beginning in the mid-1970s, he shared a deep bond as her “third husband”—and together they had a daughter, Stéphanie, who went on to become a photographer.
PHOTO：Warner Music
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