Esteban Sánchez Herrero (26 April 1934 – 3 February 1997) was a Spanish pianist. Born in the town of

Orellana la Vieja Orellana la Vieja is a municipality located in the province of Badajoz, Extremadura Extremadura (; ext, Estremaúra; pt, Estremadura; Fala: ''Extremaúra'') is an autonomous community of Spain. Its capital city is Mérida, and its larg ...

in Badajoz in the province of Extremadura, Sánchez studied with his grandfather, Joaquin Sánchez Ruiz, choirmaster in the cathedral. He went to the Real Conservatorio (Royal Conservatory) in Madrid and studied piano with Julia Parody. He perfected his technique under Carlo Zecchi in Rome and

Alfred Cortot Alfred Denis Cortot (; 26 September 187715 June 1962) was a French pianist, conductor, and teacher who was one of the most renowned classical musicians of the 20th century. A pianist of massive repertory, he was especially valued for his poeti ...

in Paris. Sánchez won numerous major international awards, including the

Ferruccio Busoni Ferruccio Busoni (1 April 1866 – 27 July 1924) was an Italian composer, pianist, conductor, editor, writer, and teacher. His international career and reputation led him to work closely with many of the leading musicians, artists and literary ...

in Bolzano, the Alfredo Casella in Naples, and the Dinu Lipatti Medal from the Harriet Cohen Foundation. In 1954, at the age of 20, he released " Impressions of Spain" by Joaquin Turina on

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of note ...

.Liner Notes: "Impressions of Spain" by Joaquin Turina, performed by Esteban Sánchez (Capitol Records LP, P18039, 1954) He returned home in 1978 to teach at the Badajoz Conservatoire. Between 1968 and 1974 he made a series of recordings in Barcelona, with producer Antonio Armet, of Beethoven, Fauré, Albéniz, and Turina. In 1976 he recorded an album of solo piano music by Manuel de Falla at

Abbey Road Studios Abbey Road Studios (formerly EMI Recording Studios) is a recording studio at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music c ...

in London. These recordings have been issued on CD by the Spanish label Ensayo, and the complete Albéniz recordings have been reissued in a budget box set by Brilliant Classics. The recording of Albéniz's Iberia has been critically acclaimed and has been favorably compared to the recordings of Alicia de Larrocha by professional reviewers. Sánchez remains little known outside Spain, but Cortot called him "a musical genius," and

Daniel Barenboim Daniel Barenboim (; in he, דניאל בארנבוים, born 15 November 1942) is an Argentine-born classical pianist and conductor based in Berlin. He has been since 1992 General Music Director of the Berlin State Opera and "Staatskapellmeist ...

asked "How is this possible? How can Spain have hidden away a performer of this class?"

Sources

* Spanish Wikipedia * Enrique Franco, "Esteban Sánchez: like a flame," liner notes, Albéniz recordings, Brilliant Classics
ClassicsToday.com

References

1934 births 1997 deaths Spanish classical pianists Male classical pianists People from Badajoz 20th-century classical pianists 20th-century Spanish musicians 20th-century Spanish male musicians {{Spain-classical-musician-stub