Devendra Kumar
Maurizio Pollini, a renowned Italian pianist, has passed away at the age of 82. La Scala opera house in Milan announced his death, but the cause of death was not disclosed. Despite his passing, Pollini’s legacy as one of the greatest musicians of his time remains, with a six decades-long international career that took him beyond the standard classical repertoire.
Born into a family of artists, Pollini grew up surrounded by music and art. His parents, Gino and Renata, were both musically inclined, and his uncle, Fausto Melotti, was a pioneer of abstract sculpture. This artistic environment had a profound impact on Pollini’s development as a musician. He began performing at the age of nine and won the International Chopin Piano Competition at 18, the youngest foreign pianist among 89 contestants.
Pollini’s unique intellectual power, combined with his unrivalled technique and interpretive drive, compelled listeners to think deeply about the music. He was praised by the jury, including Arthur Rubinstein, who reportedly said that the young pianist “already plays better than any of us”. After his initial recognition, Pollini took a break from performing to study, believing that it was too premature to be touring at such a young age.
Pollini went on to collaborate with many famous conductors, including Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, Daniel Barenboim, and Riccardo Chailly. He made several recordings with the Deutsche Grammophon label, winning several awards, including a Grammy in 2007 for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without orchestra) for Chopin: Nocturnes.
Throughout his career, Pollini was known for his mastery of early 20th-century masterpieces by Igor Stravinsky, Arnold Schoenberg, and Anton Webern, as well as post-war modernists such as Karlheinz Stockhausen, Pierre Boulez, and Luigi Nono. He was a true artist, always seeking to push the boundaries of what was possible on the piano.
Pollini is survived by his wife Marilisa and his son Daniele, also an acclaimed pianist and conductor. His legacy as one of the greatest musicians of his time will continue to inspire and influence future generations of pianists.