Maria Tipo

Italian pianist Maria Tipo was born in Naples on 23 December 1931. She studied with her pianist mother, Ersilia Cavallo, and later with Alfredo Casella and Guido Agosti.

At seventeen she won the 1949 Geneva International Music Competition, and three years later won third place in the Queen Elisabeth Comepetition in Belgium, leading to concerts, recordings, international recognition and a tour of the USA arranged by Arthur Rubinstein's manager. She was nicknamed the 'Neapolitan Horowitz'.

Her successful first recording, in 1955, was of the twelve Scarlatti sonatas, made in just four hours. It became popular with critics and collectors. She was the first pianist in Italy to suggest recording Bach's Goldberg Variations, and finally made the recording in 1990. Martha Argerich called her 'sensational'.

She also taught at the Conservatorio Claudio Monteverdi, the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève, the Florence Conservatory and the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole, and many of her students became prizewinners at international competitions.

Maria Tipo died in Florence on 10 February 2025, aged ninety-three.

 

A selection of articles about Maria Tipo

Classical music news - February 2025 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month

DVD Spotlight. Seldom Equalled - Michelangeli plays Beethoven, Galuppi and Scarlatti, and impresses Howard Smith. 'His relentless perfectionism allows him spellbinding precision ...'

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