The Salzburg Festival mourns Maurizio Pollini

“In Maurizio Pollini, the music world has lost one of the very great, one of the most essential pianists of our times. His annual performances since his 1973 debut were among the unforgettable, stellar highlights of the Salzburg Festival.

Commanding a stupendous technique, an incorruptible intellect and interpretational courage, Maurizio Pollini far exceeded what might be expected of a pianist of his rank.

His repertoire ranged from Johann Sebastian Bach’s piano works and the great classical and romantic repertoire to the music of our time. Maurizio Pollini had the ability to make the works of Arnold Schoenberg, Luigi Nono, Salvatore Sciarrino, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Pierre Boulez and others resound so that they were transformed into unique, revelatory listening experiences.

His ‘Progetto Pollini’ as part of the Salzburg Festival set standards which continue to reverberate today. His personal integrity will remain unforgotten. The Salzburg Festival bows before Maurizio Pollini, a great artist, an incomparable pianist and a true friend,” thus Artistic Director Markus Hinterhäuser.