Edith Picht-Axenfeld

Edith Picht-Axenfeld (1 January 1914 in Freiburg im Breisgau – 19 April 2001 in Hinterzarten) was a German pianist and harpsichordist.

Career

She started her concert career in 1935, and took part two years later in the III International Chopin Piano Competition, when she was awarded the sixth prize; this launched her career. Due to her family's Jewish background, she was subject to a partial ban on performing during the Nazi era.

After the Second World War, Picht-Axenfeld performed at an intercontinental level, was active as a chamber musician and recorded for labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, Philips and Erato. RCA released an LP with Chopin's Études op. 10 and op. 25 with Picht-Axenfeld.

Picht-Axenfeld married the professor for philosophy Georg Picht [de] in 1936. They had seven children, among them Robert Picht.

Influence as a teacher

She taught at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg im Breisgau from 1947 to 1979. Many pianists, and also composers like Manfred Stahnke, explicitly mention her as an important influence.

Recordings

Her 1968 recording of the Goldberg Variations is often considered as a point of reference and there obviously is still a fan base that has uploaded many full albums to YouTube.

References

  1. ↑ Adam, Johannes (31 December 2013). "Edith Picht-Axenfeld, Bachs Botschafterin". Badische Zeitung (in German). Freiburg. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  2. ↑ "Edith Picht-Axenfeld". Der Spiegel (in German). Hamburg. 30 April 2001. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  3. 1 2 Dybowski, Stanisław. "Fryderyk Chopin - Information Centre - Edith Picht-Axenfeld - Biography". en.chopin.nifc.pl. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 Budde, Elmar (2016). "Picht-Axenfeld, Edith". In Lütteken, Laurenz (ed.). MGG Online. Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  5. ↑ Teresa Löwe (2004). Georg Picht and the Birklehof School in the Post-War Period (1946–1955). Berlin. p. 5. DNB970838786.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ↑ OCLC 909206132
  7. ↑ Brachmann, Jens (2015). Reformpädagogik zwischen Re-Education, Bildungsexpansion und Missbrauchsskandal: Die Geschichte der Vereinigung Deutscher Landerziehungsheime 1947-2012. Julius Klinkhardt. p. 135. ISBN 978-3-7815-2067-7.
  8. ↑ Kreutziger-Herr, Annette; Wilson, Peter Niklas (2007). "Manfred Stahnke". KDG Online. Komponisten der Gegenwart. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  9. ↑ "complete Goldberg Variations BWV 988". Youtube. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  10. ↑ OCLC 727050629
  11. ↑ "Edith Picht-Axenfeld on Youtube". Youtube Search.