Lupu, Radu

Piano

Radu Lupu is firmly established as one of the most important musicians of his generation.

Born in Rumania, he started piano lessons with Lia Busuioceanu at the age of 6.  At the age of 12 he made his public debut with a complete programme of his own music.  He continued his studies for several years with Florica Muzicescu and Cella Delavrancea before winning a scholarship in 1961 to the Moscow Conservatoire where he studied with Galina Eghyazarova, Heinrich Neuhaus and later with Stanislav Neuhaus.  He won first prize in three competitions:  the 1966 Van Cliburn, the 1967 Enescu International, and the 1969 Leeds International. 

Mr Lupu has performed with all the great orchestras of the world, including the Berlin Philharmonic (with whom he made his Salzburg Festival debut in 1978 with Karajan), the Vienna Philharmonic (with whom he opened the 1986 Salzburg Festival with Muti), the Royal Concertgebouw, all the major London orchestras, and all the great American orchestras. In the USA his first significant appearances were in 1972 with the Cleveland Orchestra and Barenboim in New York, and with the Chicago Symphony and Giulini. He has played at most of the notable music festivals and has been a regular guest at the Salzburg and Lucerne Festivals.