Claude Frank dies in New York aged 89

Classical pianist Claude Frank has died at the age of 89 at his home in New York.

The musician died on December 27 due to complications as a result of dementia, his daughter Pamela Frank said.

Claude Frank, who was also a teacher, was at the height of his career in the 1970s when he performed around 70 concerts a year around the world.

He also recorded duets of Beethoven’s 10 sonatas with his violinist daughter during the 1990s.

As Pamela Frank’s success as a performer took off, he praised her musical prowess, saying that his only child had more talent than both him and his wife combined.

Claude Frank and his Czech-born wife Lilian Kalir, who died in 2004, often performed piano as a duo.

The musician was born in Germany to Jewish parents and moved with his family to Paris in the wake of the Nazi takeover.

After the invasion of France in 1940, they escaped to Portugal, and eventually made it to the US where Claude Frank served in the military, becoming an American citizen in 1944.

Claude Frank made his recital debut in 1947 in New York, later becoming one of the early players in the Boston Symphony Chamber Players.

He became associated with performances of Beethoven’s work, playing the complete cycle of 32 piano sonatas which was later recorded and released.

Claude Frank was one of a line-up of pianists from around the world who performed at an Olympic recital at the 2008 Beijing Games.

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