Celebrated pianist and writer Alfred Brendel dies aged 94

I wholeheartedly agree and can only really add my own personal examples.

I think the first recording of his I heard was Beethoven's Piano Sonata No.18, Op.31 No.3 from the 1970-77 recordings, and I was struck by just how different his interpretation was compared to some of the perhaps-more-well-known performers such as Daniel Barenboim. Even just the first two bars from the first movement were different and interesting enough to capture my attention.

My favorite too.

because of just don't tell me, show me

here is one of Liszt's most well known pieces played by Brendel

Hungarian Rhapsodies S. 244 No. 2 Lento a capriccioso (Alfred Brendel)(1968) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeuzUVQDsEw

how had I not heard this versions? thanks

Another, lesser-known gem: His recording of Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition.

The B-flat sonata is one of my most beloved pieces! There is a recording by Brendel released by Philips that contains the last three sonatas and the three Klavierstücke [1]. I highly recommend it!

[1] https://www.pianistdiscography.com/discography/pianistLabel....

Thank you for sharing this! I had no idea the B flat sonata was the last piece he played. It's one of my favorites, but I can't listen to it that often because I find it so sad and wistful, and now knowing this it might be even more so!