Belgium mourns popular pianist, 91
RIPThe son of François Glorieux has reported his death this weekend.
Glorieux have some 6,000 concerts and composed 300 works.
But his greatest renown came from playing his own adaptations of songs by Michael Jackson and the Beatles in the style of 19th century grand masters.
Now they BOTH belong to the ages! RIP, Frank…and Mike!
François Glorieux was a strange figure. I heard him play Bartoks 3rd pianoconcerto (fine) and attended performances of “Mouvements” for piano, brass and percussion and “Manhattan” for piano and orchestra. Both works have been recorded in Germany (with the München Rundfunk SO/Eichhorn / check YT). It is not “great” music, but Glorieux had a knack for dramatic and “exiting” music, lavishly scored for braying horns, plenty of tamtam crashes and nervous rythms. It impressed me mightily as a kid….
His “flirting” with the Beatles and -even less- his adoration of Jackson do not, imho, age well…May he RIP.
He and MJ appear to have exchanged pants in that photograph.