Hans Kann (Piano)

Born: February 14, 1927 - Vienna, Austria
Died: June 24, 2005 - Vienna, Austria

The respected Austrian pianist, pedagogue, and composer, Hans [Hannes] Kann, studied piano with A. Bloch, A. Göllner, and F. Wührer, chamber music with O. Schulhoff, composition with J. Lechthaler, and analysis with J. Polnauer in Vienna.

Hans Kann made his debut in 1946 at the Brahmssaal in Vienna, and has risen meteorically in the esteem of European concert goers. He has toured with leading conductors and orchestras throughout European capitals, performing under the batons of such conductors as Herbert von Karajan and Rosbaud. He is considered as the most outstanding example of the keyboard renaissance that has made post-war Vienna the center of a new pianistic tradition.

After winning the Silver Medal at the Geneva International Competition in 1948, Hans Kann pursued an international career. Beginning in 1955, he made regular tours of Japan (1955-1958, 1960, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986). He toured South America and Russia in 1966. He gave concerts in China in 1980, 1982, and 1985; and played in the USA in 1981 and 1984. In 1987-1988 he gave in Vienna the first complete performance of the Haydn sonatas. In 1988-1989 he presented a "Biedermeier" cycle there, consisting of works by L.v. Beethoven and Schubert and their lesser-known contemporaries. In 1989-1990 he performed the complete piano works of Mozart there, including Mozart's pieces for children and his didactic works.

Among other places, Hans Kann taught at the Vienna Academy of Music (1950-1952), the Ueno University of Arts in Tokyo (1955-1958), and the Vienna Hochschule für Musik (from 1977). He also gave master-classes at the Darmstadt Academy of Music (1961-1967)..

His compositions include a ballet, theater, film and television scores, chamber music, Lieder, experimental music, works for synthesizer, and various pieces for solo piano, including Sonatina (for piano); Abschnitt; a curious album entitled 10 Klavierstücke ohne Bassschlüssel, and 12 Alt-Wiener Walzer, as well as didactic pieces, exemplified by 33 Spezialstudien, Tägliche Fingerübungen, Concertino, and Models.

Recordings: 120 records for RCA, Musical Heritage Society, Vox, Toshiba EMI, Amadeo, Phonogram, Supraphon, Muza, Preiser Records.

Publications include: Sonatina; Abschnitt 37; Tägliche Fingerubungen für Pianisten; Models; 4 Stücke für Blockflöte und Klavier; Piano enso oboegaki (1987). He wrote a book on piano playing that was published in Japanese. Contributor to: Österreich Musikzeitung, Gendai Ongaku (Tokyo).

His awards and honours include: Silver Medal, Concours, Geneva (1948); Körner Preis (1962 and 1964); Nestroy-Ring (1985); Ehrenzeichen für Wissenschaft und Kunst 1 Klasse (1987); Medal of the Japanese Emperor (1994). Memberships: AKM; Austro-Mechana, IGNM, OGZM; Vorstandsmitglied der Austro Mechana (1987); Vorsitzender des Fonds der Austro Mechana (1988).

Hans Kann married Kue Hee Ha on January 17, 1953 and had 1 son and 1 daughter.

Source: Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of 20^th Century Classical Musicians (1997); International Who's Who in Music & Musicians' Directory (13^th Edition, 1992/93); Wikipedia Website; Liner notes to MMS album
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (August 2009)

Hans Kann: Short Biography | Recordings of Instrumental Works

Links to other Sites

Hans Kann (Wikipedia)