Otto Ludwig (pianist)

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Otto Ötte Ludwig (born November 19, 1909 in Bochum ; † September 17, 1992 in Elmau ) was a German pianist .

Life

Otto Ludwig was born in Bochum, but grew up in Heilbronn , where his father, who had learned to be a piano maker , ran a music shop. After finishing school he studied piano with Hans von Besele at the Stuttgart Music Academy . The then director of the Carl Wendling Musikhochschule , who had been playing regularly with his Wendling Quartet in Schloss Elmau for several years , was so impressed by the young pianist that he recommended Johannes Müller for an invitation to Elmau. Otto Ludwig came to the Upper Bavarian castle near Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the first time in 1932 , where he initially played on behalf of the dance.

In the following years he worked there as a pianist during his semester break until, after completing his studies in 1937, he went all the way to Elmau and from then on he regularly held piano evenings there until immediately before the end of his life, took part in chamber music concerts as a piano accompanist and participated in von Piano concertos played by more important pianists (for two pianos or for piano four hands ) took over the secondo part - and also always played at the polonaise and quadrille dance evenings traditionally held in Schloss Elmau .

Carl Wendling later commented on his student as follows:

“Otto Ludwig has an extraordinary talent for the piano. A virtuoso technique that easily overcomes all difficulties, a touch culture that serves a highly developed tonal sensitivity , warmth of sensation and power of design make the highest tasks possible for him. "

Otto Ludwig's artistic integrity as well as his cordial approach to other people (including the numerous artists who came to Schloss Elmau during the almost six decades of his activity) made Ötte , as he called himself and was also called by others, one of the main pillars of Elmau's musical life . Artists like the pianists Wilhelm Kempff or Elly Ney , the violinists Yehudi Menuhin or Dénes Zsigmondy , the cellist Ludwig Hoelscher , the tenor Peter Pears , the baritone Hermann Prey , the harpsichordist George Malcolm or the composer and pianist Benjamin Britten to name just a few - yes, actually all artists who came to Elmau, - valued Otto Ludwig as an ideal companion and mostly remained friendly with him.

Recordings

personal data
SURNAME Ludwig, Otto
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Ötte (nickname)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German pianist
DATE OF BIRTH November 19, 1909
PLACE OF BIRTH Bochum
DATE OF DEATH 17th September 1992
Place of death Elmau Castle