A much-loved US accompanist has died

A much-loved US accompanist has died

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norman lebrecht

April 14, 2018

The American pianist Irwin Gage died on Thursday in Zurich, where he had lived for many years.

Born in Cleveland, he was the regular partner of Anne-Sophie Mutter, Jessye Norman, Cheryl Studer and many more singers and violinists.

He is widely recorded.

Comments

  • Caravaggio says:

    Oh no. So deeply saddened to learn the awful news. Gage was a master accompanist. He played for and recorded with the crème de la crème, a testament to his extraordinary and heightened musicality.

    Rest in peace.

  • Sue says:

    Rest in peace. A great artist.

  • shane says:

    I thought Anne-Sophie Mutter regular piano partner is Lambert Orkis? Did they get Mutter mixed up with Anne Sophie von Otter?

  • Kelvin Grout says:

    About to tour with very famous soprano, but having problems with her I rang Irwin for advice. ‘Ah yes, impossible woman, take the money and run.’ Best advice ever!

  • Henning says:

    What about Christa Ludwig and Gundula Janowitz more so than Anne Sophie Mutter who had her own accompanist!

  • Caravaggio says:

    I don’t think Gage performed with A-S Mutter but I could be wrong. But he did with these singers: Elly Ameling, Arleen Auger, Walter Berry, Brigitte Fassbaender, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gundula Janowitz, Christa Ludwig, Edda Moser, Jessye Norman, Lucia Popp, Hermann Prey, Christine Schäfer, Peter Schreier, and Cheryl Studer.

    Mighty impressive.

    • Walter Winterfeldt says:

      I always admired his playing and interesting musical ideas. I heard him in NY with Cheryl Studer and Arleen Auger. Let’s not forget his great collaboration with baritone Tom Krause. Their recording of Schubert’s “Schwanengesang” is one of the finest, as well as a Sibelius song anthology, both Decca recordings. Also exquisite Schubert Lieder recordings with Christa Ludwig and Gundula Janowitz are available on DG.

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