Kentner Lajos
piano
Place of Birth
Karwin [Karviná, Cseh Köztársaság]
Date of Birth
1906
19 July 1906, Karwin [now: Karviná, Czech Republic] 23 September 1987, London.
Hungarian-born British pianist, composer, well-known for his remarkable performance of works by Liszt, Chopin and Bartók.
Being a unique talent he began his music studies at Ferenc Liszt Academy as pupil of Arnold Székely (piano) and János Koessler (composition), later of Leó Weiner (piano) and Zoltán Kodály (composition). He gave his first concert at the age of thirteen in Budapest. When he was fifteen he went on a concert tour in Hungary and Austria. At the age of seventeen he debuted in Berlin and later he also moved to the city. After his fathers death he returned to Hungary and finished his studies at Zoltán Kodály, who asked Kentner for playing his works - the first performance of many Kodály-works is related to Kentner. At that time he mostly played Beethovens piano concertos, as well as pieces by J. S. Bach, Schubert, Chopin and Liszt.
He debuted 1928 in the London Grotrian Hall, where he performed Liszts and Chopins works with great success. In 1932 he came in fifth place at the second International Chopin Piano Contest in Warsawa. In 1933 he won third prize at the Ferenc Liszt Piano Contest in Budapest and in the same year he presented Béla Bartóks Piano concerto No. 2., conducted by Otto Klemperer.
In 1935 he moved to London, where he became famous for his excellent performance of works by Mozart, Beethoven, J. S. Bach and especially by Ferenc Liszt. He introduced piano works of many contemporary British composers like Michael Tippett, Arthur Bliss, Alan Rawsthorne, William Walton, Arnold Bax, Constant Lambert and John Ireland as well. As soloist he co-operated on the European premiere of Bartóks Piano concerto No. 3. in 1946.
He made friends with Yehudi Menuhin and as chamber partners they frequently performed together, presenting pieces like Waltons Violin sonata. He often stood in with the cellist Gaspar Cassado as well.
Kentner debuted 1956 in the USA and after his concert in New York Town Hall he went on a tour in the country. In 1957 he presented Brahms Piano concert No. 2. in B major at the Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Dimitri Mitropoulos.
From 1974 he was teaching in Yehudi Menuhins school and from 1965 until his death he was president of the British Liszt Association. A number of his albums have been released in Hungary and abroad. He was also an active music composer since he composed orchestral works (Serenade), chamber music (Divertimento, String quintet, Two string quartets), piano pieces and airs.
Hungarian-born British pianist, composer, well-known for his remarkable performance of works by Liszt, Chopin and Bartók.
Being a unique talent he began his music studies at Ferenc Liszt Academy as pupil of Arnold Székely (piano) and János Koessler (composition), later of Leó Weiner (piano) and Zoltán Kodály (composition). He gave his first concert at the age of thirteen in Budapest. When he was fifteen he went on a concert tour in Hungary and Austria. At the age of seventeen he debuted in Berlin and later he also moved to the city. After his fathers death he returned to Hungary and finished his studies at Zoltán Kodály, who asked Kentner for playing his works - the first performance of many Kodály-works is related to Kentner. At that time he mostly played Beethovens piano concertos, as well as pieces by J. S. Bach, Schubert, Chopin and Liszt.
He debuted 1928 in the London Grotrian Hall, where he performed Liszts and Chopins works with great success. In 1932 he came in fifth place at the second International Chopin Piano Contest in Warsawa. In 1933 he won third prize at the Ferenc Liszt Piano Contest in Budapest and in the same year he presented Béla Bartóks Piano concerto No. 2., conducted by Otto Klemperer.
In 1935 he moved to London, where he became famous for his excellent performance of works by Mozart, Beethoven, J. S. Bach and especially by Ferenc Liszt. He introduced piano works of many contemporary British composers like Michael Tippett, Arthur Bliss, Alan Rawsthorne, William Walton, Arnold Bax, Constant Lambert and John Ireland as well. As soloist he co-operated on the European premiere of Bartóks Piano concerto No. 3. in 1946.
He made friends with Yehudi Menuhin and as chamber partners they frequently performed together, presenting pieces like Waltons Violin sonata. He often stood in with the cellist Gaspar Cassado as well.
Kentner debuted 1956 in the USA and after his concert in New York Town Hall he went on a tour in the country. In 1957 he presented Brahms Piano concert No. 2. in B major at the Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Dimitri Mitropoulos.
From 1974 he was teaching in Yehudi Menuhins school and from 1965 until his death he was president of the British Liszt Association. A number of his albums have been released in Hungary and abroad. He was also an active music composer since he composed orchestral works (Serenade), chamber music (Divertimento, String quintet, Two string quartets), piano pieces and airs.
| Year | Title | Publisher | Code | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 |
50 éves a Hungaroton - Zongoraművészek (1951-2001)
(Fifty Years of Hungaroton - Pianists) |
Hungaroton | HCD 32088-90 | 3 CDs |
| 2021 | Introduction to Classical Music, Vol. 1 - The Essential Classics of J. S. Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart & Others | Hungaroton | HCD 32854 |