Karl Engel

Karl Engel ( born June 1, 1923 in Birsfelden, Canton of Basel-Landschaft, † September 2, 2006 in Chernex on Lake Geneva) was a Swiss pianist.

Life

After graduating from high school he studied until 1945 piano first with Paul Baumgartner at the Basel Conservatory, where he worked as a lecturer later, and at the École Normale de Musique in Paris with Alfred Cortot. Since 1946, he has performed as a soloist and chamber musician. Chamber music partners have included the French cellist Paul Tortelier, the Spanish cellist Pablo Casals, violinist Sándor Végh the Hungarian and the American violinist Yehudi Menuhin. By 1986, Angel taught at the University of Music and Theatre in Hanover, from 1956 as a professor. Since 1980, he directed both at home and abroad, master classes and courses.

Angels made ​​primarily a name as an outstanding vocal accompanist. In this role, he worked primarily with Dietrich Fischer- Dieskau, but also with other famous song interpreters of the 20th century, Hermann Prey, Peter Schreier and Brigitte Fassbaender.

In the 1970s, a rehearsed by him and acclaimed recording of the complete piano works of Robert Schumann appeared. He has also recorded the complete piano concertos and sonatas of Mozart.