Peter Katin

British pianist Peter Katin was born in London on 14 November 1930. His musical talent was recognised when he was four, and he studied with Harold Craxton at London's Royal Academy of Music from the age of twelve. In 1948 his Wigmore Hall debut recital included music by Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart, Rachmaninov, Scarlatti and Scriabin.

Specialising in Romantic and impressionist music (in spite of early successes with classical composers), he was acclaimed for his 1953 BBC Proms performance of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 3. He performed in Africa, Europe, Japan and the USA, and in 1958 was the first British pianist since the war to make a solo tour of the Soviet Union.

In addition to performing, he wrote articles on technique and interpretation, lectured at the Royal Academy of Music, the University of Western Ontario, the Royal College of Music and Thames Valley University and undertook charity work, raising funds for the UK-based Chernobyl Children's Project.

Peter Katin died on 19 March 2015, aged eighty-four.

A selection of articles about Peter Katin

CD Spotlight. Magnificent Form - Peter Katin plays Brahms, heard by Robert Anderson. '... Katin is in his element, moulding the arching phrases with complete mastery.'

CD Spotlight. A Spectral Atmosphere - Murray McLachlan plays music by Shostakovich and friends, recommended by Howard Smith. '... an outright triumph for the label and for McLachlan.'