Farnadi, Edith (1921–1973)
Farnadi, Edith (1921–1973)
Hungarian pianist who made extensive recordings reinterpreting Liszt. Born in Budapest, Hungary, on September 25, 1921; died in Graz, Austria, on December 14, 1973.
Edith Farnadi was born in Budapest on September 25, 1921, and studied at the Budapest Academy. Her debut took place in Budapest in 1933 with her performing Beethoven's C major Piano Concerto, which she conducted from the keyboard. After graduation from the academy at age 16, she became a faculty member there, and engaged in extensive concert tours in Europe. She was a noted chamber-music performer and made many recordings, including a large number of works by Liszt. Farnadi's interpretations of Liszt were marked by a careful, restrained intelligence and avoided the explosive rhetoric of the traditional Romantic style with which his music had long been associated.
John Haag, Athens, Georgia