Born: November 20, 1937 - Detroit, Michigan, USA
Died: May 25, 2005 - New York, New York, USA

The American pianist, Ruth Meckler Laredo, had early piano studies with her mother. She continued her training with Rudolf Serkin at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, garduating in 1960 with a Bachelor of Music degree.

In 1960 Ruth Laredo married Bolivian violinist Jaime Laredo (the couple was divorced in 1974). During the next several years both musicians made numerous joint appearances throughout the world. In 1962 she made her debut in New York with the American Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski. Since then she has played all over the USA with many orchestras including the National Symphony, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra and the Indianapolis Symphony. She has also played in many foreign countries, giving tours in Japan, Holland, and Germany, among others. She has been a regular participant at the Marlboro Festival in Vermont, collaborating with numerous colleagues in virtually all major chamber works involving the piano.

Ruth Laredo has been particularly identified with the music of Sergei Rachmaninov and Alexander Scriabin. She has recorded the complete solo piano works of S. Rachmaninov for Columbia/CBS/Sony. As a result of these recordings, she was commissioned by C.F. Peters to edit an edition of the 24 S. Rachmaninov Preludes. She has also earned a reputation as a specialist in Scriabin, having recorded all ten of his sonatas (for Connoisseur Society) along with other smaller works, and including this music frequently on her recital programs. In addition, she has made recordings of works by Ravel, Debussy, Barber, Chopin, L.v. Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and many other composers.

Ruth Laredo won several awards throughout her career including a Grammy nomination, and was chosen as one of five pianists to perform at Carnegie Hall for its 90^th anniversary celebration.

Source: International Piano Archives at Maryland, UM Libraries Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (April 2007)

Ruth Laredo: Short Biography | Recordings of Instrumental Works

Links to other Sites

Ruth Laredo, Classical Pianist - "America's First Lady of the Piano" (Official Website)
International Piano Archives at Maryland, UM Libraries: Ruth Laredo
Ruth Laredo (Wikipedia)
Ruth Laredo - Biography (AMG)
Ruth Laredo (In-Tune Productions)
Music: Ruth Laredo's Rachmaninoff (NY Times)

classical music andante: pianist ruth laredo, 67, succumbs to cancer
Ruth Laredo dies at 67 American Music Teacher (Find Articles)
Yamaha Corporation of America - In Memoriam: Ruth Laredo
Stereophile: Ruth Laredo: 1937-2005
CBC.ca Arts - In Brief: Concert pianist Ruth Laredo dies
USA Today: Concert pianist Ruth Laredo dies at 67