In Memoriam Theo Bruins (1929-1993)

• Already from his very first appearance on the concert platform, Theo Bruins attracted attention with his inspired, clear and technically perfect way of playing. For years he was also the only important Dutch concert pianist with his imposing playing and it is regrettable that this has been so seldom recorded. What was lacking was career desire: his ambition applied only to the music. There was no other pianist who performed new compositions with such a profound knowledge, dedication, sense of responsibility, and pianistic grandeur without ever putting himself forward.

• His greatness had already been recognized very early and was put into works very aptly by the renowned critic J. Reichenfeld, when he wrote in 1952: "Inspired by a boundless respect for the notes and dynamic indications, Theo Bruins always knows how to build the music from exactly the right musical climate of the creation. The element "play" dominates his interpretations, and equipped with a perfect technical command, the intrinsic dramatics take place ''without effort", without philosophizing or unravelling of the contents".

• Although this CD is primarily meant for those countries where Theo Bruins was known, we have given it a world-wide release because of the extremely interesting repertoire and the truly outstanding quality of the performances which undoubtedly will be recognized by reviewers the world over.

• The original recording of this recital from the Amsterdam Concertgebouw was made available to us by the Dutch radio and the sound quality is excellent, capturing to perfection the beautiful and brilliant piano sound as well as the musical tension which were such integral parts of a Bruins recital.

Theo Bruins was born in Arnhem on November 25, 1929. He studied piano with Jaap Spaanderman at the Amsterdam School of Music, and gave his first concerts and recitals in 1946. From 1948 to 1950 he studied in Paris with Yves Nat. In 1960, after a recital in London, he was awarded the Harriet Cohen Beethoven Medal. The repertoire played by Theo Bruins included practically the whole of musical history, but in concert he only performed those pieces which intrigued him. In May 1991 the first symptoms of a fatal illness declared themselves, and he died on January 8, 1993 as a result of this disease, after he had been forced to abandon his career as concert pianist from June 1992 onwards. In a commemorative article Jan van Vlijmen, composer and director of the Holland festival, wondered rightly whether concert audiences and even many of his fellow-composers did realise how great a musician they had lost.