15 Facts About Friedrich Gulda

Friedrich Gulda won first prize at the Geneva International Music Competition in 1946.

Together with Jorg Demus and Paul Badura-Skoda, Friedrich Gulda formed what became known as the "Viennese troika".

Friedrich Gulda continued to perform classical works throughout his life, composing cadenzas for two Mozart concertos, which he famously recorded with his former pupil Claudio Abbado, although he sometimes conducted from the keyboard himself.

In 1956, Friedrich Gulda performed and recorded at Birdland in New York City and at the Newport Jazz Festival.

Friedrich Gulda organized the International Competition for Modern Jazz in 1966, and he established the International Musikforum, a school for students who wanted to learn improvisation, in Ossiach, Austria, in 1968.

Friedrich Gulda recorded as a vocalist under the pseudonym "Albert Golowin", fooling music critics for years until it was realized that Gulda and Golowin were the same person.

Friedrich Gulda played instrumental pieces, at times combining jazz, free music, and classical music in his concerts.

Friedrich Gulda spoke of a fascination with the boundaries in music, believing all music to have worth, regardless of how society judged it.

Friedrich Gulda believed experiments in what he called 'free music' were wonderful musical experiences, even if nobody else believed it was music.

In 1982, Friedrich Gulda teamed up with jazz pianist Chick Corea, who was between the breakup of Return to Forever and the formation of his Elektric Band.

Friedrich Gulda died of heart failure at the age of 69 on 27 January 2000 at his home in Weissenbach, Austria.

Friedrich Gulda is buried in the cemetery of Steinbach am Attersee, Austria.

Friedrich Gulda gave instructions for there to be no obituary.

Friedrich Gulda was married twice, firstly to actress Paola Loew with whom he had two sons, David Wolfgang and Paul, and secondly to Yuko Wakiyama with whom he had another son, Rico.

In 1975 Friedrich Gulda began a relationship with the oratorio singer Ursula Anders which lasted until his death.