16 Facts About Nelson Freire

Nelson Jose Pinto Freire was a Brazilian classical pianist.

Nelson Freire played and recorded piano duo music with Martha Argerich, a long-time musical and personal friend.

Nelson Jose Pinto Freire was born on 18 October 1944 in Boa Esperanca.

Nelson Freire replayed from memory pieces his older sister, Nelma, had just performed.

Nelson Freire gave his first public recital at the age of four.

In 1957, Nelson Freire's performed Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 5, at the age of 12.

Nelson Freire was awarded 7th place at the Rio de Janeiro International Piano Competition.

Nelson Freire subsequently received a Brazilian government grant to study in Vienna with Bruno Seidlhofer.

In general, Nelson Freire tended to avoid the limelight, publicity, and interviews.

Nelson Freire appeared as soloist with the world's most prestigious orchestras, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre de Paris, the Orchestre National de France, the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.

Nelson Freire died from a fall at his home in Rio de Janeiro on 1 November 2021, two weeks after his 77th birthday.

Nelson Freire recorded for Sony Classical, Teldec, Philips, Decca, and Deutsche Grammophon.

Nelson Freire recorded Liszt's piano concertos with the Dresden Philharmonic, conducted by Michel Plasson for Berlin Classics.

Nelson Freire recorded commercially with Martha Argerich, with whom he shared a long-time musical collaboration and friendship.

Nelson Freire marked the 2011 bicentenary of the birth of Franz Liszt with a Decca CD entitled Harmonies du Soir.

Nelson Freire's recordings garnered awards such as the Gramophone Award, Diapason d'Or, and the Latin Grammy Award, in addition to three Grammy Award nominations.