2012 Piano Anniversaries: Debussy, Thalberg, Ravel, Gershwin, Cage, Pollini, Barenboim

Thalberg (Liszt's rival) [image: wikipedia]

It's a new year and with it, a whole range of anniversaries. In 2010 we had the 200th anniversaries of the birth of Chopin and Schumann, 2011 of Franz Liszt, and now for 2012 we mark the

• 50th  anniversary of the death of English composer John Nicholson Ireland (13 August 1879 – 12 June 1962) 
• 75th anniversaries of the deaths of composers George Gershwin  (September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) and Maurice Ravel (March 7, 1875 – December 28, 1937) 
• 100th Anniversary of the birth of American John Cage  (b. 5th September 1912 –  d. 12th August 1992)
• 150th Anniversary of French composer Claude Debussy's birth (22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918)  
• 200th anniversary of the birth of  19th Century virtuoso pianist/composer  Sigismond Thalberg,  (January 8, 1812 – April 27, 1871) once serious rival to Franz Liszt (October 22, 1811 – July 31, 1886).  

Happy 70th Birthday to great Concert Pianists: 

• Maurizio Pollini born 5th January 1942.
• Daniel Barenboim, born 15th November 1942.

John Cage - Suite for Toy Piano performed by Steve Butters

So look out for special recitals and commemorations coming out near you in 2012.
If you want to list one below as a comment, feel free!