Charles Rosen

American pianist and writer about music Charles Welles Rosen was born on 5 May 1927, and studied piano with Moriz Rozenthal, but was also influenced by hearing the playing of Josef Hofmann.

He studied French and gained a PhD in French Literature from Princeton. He held positions as a professor at various universities. His best-known book about music was The Classical Style (1971) which examines the nature of classical music from the perspective of Beethoven, Haydn and Mozart, and which received the US National Book Award for non-fiction in 1972.

His career as a concert pianist took him to many countries, and he was invited by various composers - including Stravinsky, Elliott Carter and Pierre Boulez - to record their work.

Rosen died in New York City on 9 December 2012, aged eighty-five.

A selection of articles about Charles Rosen

Spotlight. The Tyranny of Consensus - John Dante Prevedini discovers a missing chapter in the history of electronic music in England. '... increased subtlety and variety of techniques employed ...'

Echoes of Oblivion by Robert McCarney - Fragments of Utopia

Ensemble. A Sparkling Account - The Kanazawa-Admony Piano Duo pays tribute to Carola Grindea, reviewed by Malcolm Miller

Record Box. Superb Performances - Ursula Oppens plays Elliott Carter, celebrated by Patric Standford

Profile. Tête-à-Tête - Bill Newman talks to British pianist Mark Bebbington