Gustav Leonhardt
More than 17 times played this month
Gustav Leonhardt grew up in a musical environment. His father, George—a manufacturer, Mahler enthusiast, and for many years secretary of the Nederlandsche Bach Vereeniging—funded a harpsichord for his 15-year-old son (built after historical models but essentially modern in nature). During the same period, he developed a great interest in the historic organ. Gustav's sister, Trudelies Leonhardt, became a pianist.
After his time at grammar school and his initial music studies in the Netherlands, Gustav Leonhardt moved to the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel in 1947 and studied organ, harpsichord, and musicology there until 1950 under Eduard Müller, graduating cum laude.
In 1955, he became a harpsichord teacher at the Amsterdam Conservatory and founded his own ensemble, the Leonhardt Consort, with his Swiss wife, Marie Leonhardt-Amsler, as concertmaster.
Leonhardt is one of the founders of "authentic performance practice." His countless recordings of harpsichord and organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach are famous. He rescued countless other composers from international Renaissance and Baroque music from oblivion or brought them to the forefront. As a purchasing advisor for third parties (including students), he promoted the construction of new harpsichords based accurately on historical examples. (GC Klop)
Gustav Leonhardt passed away on January 16, 2012.
