Positano Piano Forum: Beethoven and the Modern Age – Masterclass

Wilhelm-Kempff-Kulturstiftung, c/o DSZ-Maecenata Management GmbH

In 1957 Wilhelm Kempff organized the first Beethoven course at Casa Orfeo, an academy built according to his own plans in the Southern Italian town of Positano. In the 25 years of its existence under Wilhelm Kempff the Casa attracted a large number of successful pianists from subsequent generations to work intensively on Beethoven’s sonatas and piano concerts. After Kempff’s death classes were led by former course participants, initially Gerhard Oppitz then John O’Connor and finally Bernd Goetzke. For the first time in 2013 the classical focus of the Beethoven courses was broadened to include a masterclass program on contemporary piano music with the lecturers and, at the same time, artistic directors Marino Formenti und Siegfried Mauser. Using Beethoven’s works as its point of reference the Positano Piano Forum explored contemporary works.
Invitations to apply for the grants-in-aid are issued internationally by approaching professors of piano at music academies. With their applications applicants submit a list of the works they wish to work on, including at least one work from the 20^th or 21^st century.

July 2015
Casa Orfeo, Positano, Italy

Further Information:
www.wilhelmkempffkulturstiftung.de