Dinu Lipatti

 '... one of the greatest pianists ever, the very image of a complete musician.' - Nadia Boulanger

Romanian pianist Constantin 'Dinu' Lipatti was born in Bucharest on 19 March 1917. His father was a violinist who had studied with Sarasate and Carl Flesch, his mother was a pianist and his godfather was George Enescu. Lipatti studied with Florica Musicescu at the Bucharest Conservatoire. In the 1933 Vienna International Piano Competition he was awarded second prize, but only because the jury thought he was too young. He continued his studies in Paris with Alfred Cortot, Nadia Boulanger, Paul Dukas and Charles Munch.

His career was made difficult by the Second World War, and he continued to give concerts, but eventually fled Romania for Geneva, working as a professor in the conservatoire.

In 1947 Lipatti was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, and his final recital was in Besançon on 16 September 1950. He died three months later, in Geneva, on 2 December 1955, aged only thirty-three.

 

A selection of articles about Dinu Lipatti

CD Spotlight. Dazzling Tracks - Dinu Lipatti, heard by Joanne Chang. '... skillfully and brilliantly carried out.'

CD Spotlight. Thoughtfully Appealing - Judith Lambden plays J S Bach, heard by Howard Smith. '... a great deal to admire ...'