Celebrated Romanian pianist Radu Lupu has died at age 76, the George Enescu Festival announced. Lupu, who was living in Switzerland, had retired in 2019.

Born in Galaţi in 1945, he started taking piano lessons at age 6. He made his debut at age 12 with a program he had composed. After studying in Galaţi, Braşov, and Bucharest, he received a scholarship at the Moscow Conservatory in 1961.

He started his international career winning several competitions: the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Texas (1966), the George Enescu International Piano Competition in Bucharest (1967), and the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition in England (1969).

His solo recordings include works by Beethoven, Brahms, Grieg, Mozart, Schubert, and Schumann.

(Photo: Andrei Gîndac/ George Enescu Festival Facebook Page)

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