Julius Katchen

Julius Katchen ( born August 15, 1926 in Long Branch, New Jersey; † 29 April 1969, Paris) was an American pianist of Russian-Jewish descent.

He made his debut at the age of 11 years with a Mozart concert in Philadelphia under the direction of Eugene Ormandy. However, a child prodigy career was averted, he continued to study with his grandparents, who had taught at the conservatories in Warsaw and Moscow, later in the Godowsky -disciple David Saperton. He then took up studies in philosophy and French language in Haverford and at the Sorbonne. He lived from that time in France.

Although Katchens repertoire was initially broad, but focused from the late 50s more and more on the works of Johannes Brahms. He took as to record not only his complete solo piano works on ( one of today's standard-setting in their power, virtuosity and Werkdurchdringung recording), but also the two piano concertos and a number of chamber works ( with Josef Suk Jr. and János Starker ). On December 11, 1968, he took part in the "Rock ' n' Roll Circus " the Rolling Stones part.

Katchen died at the age of 42 from leukemia.