Alicia de Larrocha A favorite of audiences throughout the world, the Spanish pianist Alicia de Larrocha has toured the United States three times each year since her return here in 1965, building a fanatically devoted public who cheer her in recital, with orchestra and in chamber music. She plays regularly with the great orchestras, at the great festivals and on the most prestigious recital series in the land, and her catalogue of unique recordings is available the world over. A native of Barcelona, Alicia de Larrocha made her first public appearance in 1929 at the age of six. The great Artur Rubinstein was a close friend of her teacher and predicted a great career for her, encouraging her to continue her studies with Frank Marshall, then the head of the Marshall Academy, founded in her native city by Enrique Granados. Mme. de Larrocha serves today as the third President of the Academy. In 1947 she first toured outside Spain, and she made her British debut in 1953, followed by her America debut in 1955 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Alfred Wallenstein. Although she subsequently received the Paderewski Prize in London, as well as international honors for her early recordings of Granados and Albeniz, it was only in 1965 on her return to the United States for what amounted to a second debut here which earned for her the reputation as one of the world’s great classical artists. During the 1995-1996 season, she celebrated the 30th Anniversary of her debut with the New York Philharmonic. Now an exclusive recording artist for BMG Classics (RCA Victor Red Seal), Mme. de Larrocha has recorded the complete Mozart Piano Sonatas and commenced recording a series of Mozart Piano Concertos for that label. Previously she had recorded extensively for London/Decca and has the distinction of winning four Grammy Awards, tow of them in successive years; in 1974 as Best Classical Solo Performance for the Albeniz Iberia, and in 1975 as Best Soloist with Orchestra for the two concertos of Maurice Ravel. Mme. de Larrocha’s third Grammy was awarded for her digital re-recording of Iberia in 1989. Her most recent Grammy Award is for her RCA recording of Granados’ Goyescas, released in 1991 and which also has been awarded the Grand Prix du Disque. In 1978 Mme. de Larrocha received the Dutch Edison Prize for her complete London/Decca recording of Granados’ Goyescas, which also won the 1979 Deutsche Schallplatten Prize. Among Mme. de Larrocha’s albums on RCA are the pairing of the Schumann Piano Concerto conducted by Sir Colin Davis and the Piano Quintet with the Tokyo String Quartet, the Ravel concertos with Leonard Slatkin conducting the St. Louis Symphony and the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 with Michael Tilson Thomas conducting, coupled with the Pastoral Sonata, No. 15 in D, Opus 28. The Beethoven concerto is also part of a series entitled Concerto now available on video cassette. Other RCA releases are a Granados album featuring the Danzas Españolas and Valses Poéticos, the Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor an Concerto Mo. 25 in C Major with Sir Colin Davis conducting, the fifth and final volume of Mozart Piano Sonatas, K. 533, K. 570 and K. 576 with the Rondo, K. 511 and most recently a Schumann recital reaturing the Humoresque, Op.20, and Phantasie, Op. 17 and the Mozart Concerto No. 27 in B flat Major, K. 595 and Concerto No. 19 in F Major, K. 459, again with Sir Colin Davis conducting. Musical America honored Alicia de Larrocha at the 50th Anniversary of her debut by naming her 1979’s Musician of the Year, and 1989 marked the Diamond Jubilee of her performing career. In 1982 the city of Barcelona awarded her the Medallo d’oro for artistic merit, and in that same year the Spanish National Assembly voted to award her its gold medal “al merito en las bellas artes” which was bestowed on her by King Juan Carlos at a formal reception in Madrid. Mme. de Larrocha is also an honorary member of the Los Lazos de Dama of the Spanish Order of Civil Merit, and the Order of Isabella la Catolica. Mme. de Larrocha was awarded the Principe de Asturias Prize, given by a private foundation in Spain to honor outstanding achievements in humanities, science and the arts in November of 1994. 3/00 (WPB)