Biography
Walter Gieseking, a German pianist whose reputation rested on exceptional sensitivity together with precise command over tone, color, and dynamics, left an enduring testament through his recordings of Debussy and Ravel. Born in Lyon, France in 1895, he was the son of a respected doctor and entomologist. He first touched the piano at age four and advanced rapidly, having been largely self-taught. Only at sixteen did he receive his initial formal instruction from Karl Leimer at the Hanover Conservatory, having spent his earlier years traveling through France and Italy with his family and receiving private tutoring.
In 1915 he presented a series of Hanover recitals that included nearly all of Beethoven’s piano sonatas. The following year he was conscripted into the German army and served in a regimental band until the close of World War I in 1918. After his discharge he worked as an accompanist, served as a vocal coach, and appeared in chamber ensembles before returning to the recital stage with a highly successful Berlin debut in 1920. Public demand then led to seven further programs devoted to Debussy, Ravel, and newer works by Hindemith, Szymanowski, and Schoenberg.
He introduced Hans Pfitzner’s Piano Concerto in London with conductor Fritz Busch in 1923 and made his American debut three years later at Aeolian Hall in New York. His career as recitalist and soloist flourished across Europe and the United States until the Second World War, when accusations of Nazi sympathies brought a temporary blacklist. Performances nevertheless continued in South America, Japan, and Europe. Once cleared, both his political standing and his American engagements were restored, the latter resuming in 1953 with a Carnegie Hall recital that inaugurated the final high point of his career, which lasted until his death in 1956.
Beyond the concert platform, he documented a vast recorded legacy that comprised the complete solo piano music of Mozart and Debussy as well as an extensive selection of Ravel. He had also begun recording all thirty-two of Beethoven’s piano sonatas when his unexpected death intervened.
In 1915 he presented a series of Hanover recitals that included nearly all of Beethoven’s piano sonatas. The following year he was conscripted into the German army and served in a regimental band until the close of World War I in 1918. After his discharge he worked as an accompanist, served as a vocal coach, and appeared in chamber ensembles before returning to the recital stage with a highly successful Berlin debut in 1920. Public demand then led to seven further programs devoted to Debussy, Ravel, and newer works by Hindemith, Szymanowski, and Schoenberg.
He introduced Hans Pfitzner’s Piano Concerto in London with conductor Fritz Busch in 1923 and made his American debut three years later at Aeolian Hall in New York. His career as recitalist and soloist flourished across Europe and the United States until the Second World War, when accusations of Nazi sympathies brought a temporary blacklist. Performances nevertheless continued in South America, Japan, and Europe. Once cleared, both his political standing and his American engagements were restored, the latter resuming in 1953 with a Carnegie Hall recital that inaugurated the final high point of his career, which lasted until his death in 1956.
Beyond the concert platform, he documented a vast recorded legacy that comprised the complete solo piano music of Mozart and Debussy as well as an extensive selection of Ravel. He had also begun recording all thirty-two of Beethoven’s piano sonatas when his unexpected death intervened.
Albums

Walter Gieseking's Piano Collection
2025

Walter Gieseking - A Piano Landscape
2025

Mozart on the piano vol. 1
2024

Mozart on the piano
2024

Moonlight. Variations, Preludes and Other Piano Works by Mozart, Debussy, Grieg, Beethoven & Schumann
2024

Walter Gieseking Plays Chopin, Mendelssohn, Schumann & Grieg
2024

Beethoven, R. Strauss & Wagner
2023

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 18, 19, 20, 30 & 31
2023

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 13, 14 "Moonlight", 15 & 17 "The Tempest"
2023

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 9, 10, 11 & 12
2023

Mozart: Piano Works, Vol. 7. Piano Sonatas, K. 533, 545 "Sonata facile", 570, 576 & 547a
2023

Encores: Chopin, Scarlatti, Scriabin, Debussy…
2023

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 4, 6, 7 & 8 "Pathétique"
2023

Mozart: Piano Works, Vol. 6. Piano Sonatas, K. 331 "Alla Turca", 332, 333 "Linz" & 457
2023

Schubert: Impromptus, Klavierstücke & Moments musicaux
2023

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 5
2023

Mozart: Piano Works, Vol. 5. Piano Sonatas, K. 309, 310, 311 & 330
2023

Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words
2023

Mozart: Piano Works, Vol. 4. Piano Sonatas, K. 279 - 284
2023

Grieg: Piano Concerto, Op. 16 - Franck: Variations symphoniques, FWV 46
2023

Debussy: La plus que lente, Études & Fantaisie pour piano et orchestre
2023

Schumann: Arabesque, Kindeszenen & Vogel als Prophet
2022

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23, K. 488 - Schumann: Piano Concerto, Op. 54
2022

Ravel: Miroirs, Jeux d'eau, Valses nobles et sentimentales & À la manière de...
2022

Mozart: Piano Works, Vol. 3. Fantasias, Minuets & German Dances
2022

Debussy: Préludes, Berceuse héroïque & Estampes
2022

Debussy: Suite bergamasque, Arabesques, Pour le piano & Rêverie
2022

Poet of the Piano
2022

Grieg: Lyric Pieces
2022

Debussy: Images, Children's Corner, Masques & L'isle joyeuse
2022

Beethoven: Piano Concerto NO. 5, OP. 73 - Piano Concerto NO. 4, OP. 58
2022

Mozart: Piano Works, Vol. 2. Variations
2022

Ravel: Tombeau de Couperin, Gaspard de la nuit, Pavane pour une infante défunte & Sonatine
2022

Mozart: Piano Works, Vol. 1. Variations & Nannerl Notenbuch
2022

Reger: Piano Concerto in F Minor, Op. 114 - Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 25, K. 466 & 503
2022

Brahms & Schumann: piano Concerto NO. 2, OP. 83 - Piano Concerto, OP. 54
2022

Debussy: Préludes, Suites & Other Piano Works
2022

Mozart & Beethoven: Works
2022

Walter Gieseking: Lightness & Clarity, Vol. 7
2021

Walter Gieseking: Lightness & Clarity, Vol. 10
2021

Walter Gieseking: Lightness & Clarity, Vol. 8
2021

Walter Gieseking: Lightness & Clarity, Vol. 1
2021

Walter Gieseking: Lightness & Clarity, Vol. 9
2021

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 in E-flat Major, Op. 74, "emperor"
2021

J.S. Bach: Piano Works (2021 Remastered Version)
2021

Schubert: Piano Works (2020 Remaster)
2021

Ravel: Piano Trio, Miroirs, Sonatine, Pavane & Other Works (Digital Remaster 2020)
2020

R. Schumann: Piano Concerto, Symphonic Etudes & Fantasy in C Major (2020 Digital Remaster)
2020

The Great Classical Music #127 : Felix Mendelssohn // Edvard Grieg // Gabriel Fauré
2020

Beethoven: Sonatas No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2 No. 1, No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 "Pathètique", No. 19 in G Minor, Op. 49 No.1 & No. 20 in G Major, Op. 49 No. 2
2020

Beethoven: Sonatas No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10 No. 3 & No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22
2020

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58
2020

The Official Classical Collection n. 87
2019

Mozart: Complete Solo Piano Works
2018

Debussy: Préludes, Book 1, L. 117
2018

Debussy: Piano Works
2017

Ravel: Complete Works for Solo Piano
2017

Complete Bach Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon
2017

Mozart: Piano Works
2017

Schubert & Schumann: Piano Works
2016

Beethoven, Concierto para piano No. 4, Concierto para piano No. 5
2015

Schumann, Concierto para Piano, Sinfonía No. 4
2015

Mozart, Concierto para Piano No. 23 y No. 24
2015

Claude Debussy: Suite Bergamasque - 12 Piano Studies
2015

Karl Böhm, Beethoven-Reger-Pfitzner-R.Strauss
2015

Debussy: Complete Works for Piano
2015

Franck & Beethoven: Violin Sonatas
2014

Schumann: Piano Works
2014

Debussy: Piano Works [2011 - Remaster]
2012

Debussy Etudes, Estampes
2012

Debussy Images, Children's Corner
2012

Debussy: Suite Bergamasque
2012

Debussy Preludes
2012

Debussy: In Piano Music
2012

Ravel: Complete Piano Works [2011 - Remaster]
2012

Debussy: 12 Etudes, D'Un Cahier D'Esquisses [2011 - Remaster]
2012

Mendelssohn: 17 Songs without Words [2011 - Remaster]
2012

Debussy: Preludes Book I & II [2011 - Remaster]
2012

Debussy: Images Sets I & II - Pour Le Piano [2011 - Remaster]
2012

Vintage Piano Classical Greats
2012

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 20, 21, 23, 28 and 30
2011

Grieg: Piano Concerto No. 1 - Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1
2011

Debussy: Estampes (Images), Cortege et air de Danse
2011

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1
2010

Plays Ravel
2010

Beethoven: Sonata No. 8 "Pathetique", Sonata No. 14 "Moonlight"
2010

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 2
2009

Bach, J.S.: Partitas Nos. 1, 5, 6 / Italian Concerto / Beethoven, L. Van: Piano Sonata No. 17, "Tempest" (Gieseking) (1934-1940)
2009

Brahms: The Complete Columbia Recordings
2008

Walter Gieseking: Mozart - Obra Completa para Piano VI
2007

Walter Gieseking: Mozart - Obra Completa para Piano V
2007

Walter Gieseking: Mozart - Obra Completa para Piano I
2007

Walter Gieseking: Mozart - Obra Completa para Piano III
2007

Walter Gieseking: Mozart - Obra Completa para Piano IV
2007

Walter Gieseking: Mozart - Obra Completa para Piano II
2007

Beethoven: Piano Works
2004

Debussy: Suite Bergamasque, Children's Corner, Estampes, Images I & II, L'Isle joyeuse, La plus que lente
2004

Ravel: Solo Piano Music
2002

J.S. Bach: English Suites
2002

Ravel: The Complete Works for Solo Piano
2001

BACH: DAS WOHLTEMPERIERTE KLAVIER; ENGLISH and FRENCH SUITE
2001

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos 21, "Waldstein", 23, "Appassionata", 30 & 31
2001

Beethoven: 10 Piano Sonatas (Remastered)
2000

Debussy, C.: Preludes / Images (Gieseking) (1948, 1950)
2000

Walter Gieseking - Icon
1999

BEETHOVEN: PIANO SONATA No.16, No.24 "À THÉRÈSE", No.25 "ALLA TEDESCA", No.26 "LES ADIEUX", No.27, No.28, No.29 "HAMMERKLAVIER", No.32
1999

SCHUMANN: CONCERT FOR PIANO IN A Minor, CELLO CONCERTO; GRIEG: PIANO CONCERTO
1999

Walter Gieseking Plays Ravel & Debussy
1995

Walter Gieseking Plays Mozart & Beethoven
1995

Gieseking - Concerto Recordings, Vol. 3
1995

Gieseking - Concerto Recordings, Vol. 2
1995

Piano Sonatas 8, 9, 10, 13, 14 - Beethoven
1995

Gieseking - Concerto Recordings, Vol. 1
1994

Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier Book I& II BWV 846-893
1990

Debussy: Preludes, Books I & II
1987

A Mozart Song Recital
1956

Mozart & Beethoven: Quintets for Piano and Winds
1956

Mozart: Sonata No. 8 in a Minor, K.310, Sonata No. 11 in a Major, K.331, Sonata No. 17 in D Major, K.576, Recorded 1954.
1954

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 21 "Waldstein" & 23 "Appassionata"
1953
Singles

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58: I. Allegro moderato - Cadenza - Tempo 1
2020

Beethoven: Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109: III. Tema. Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo - Variations I to VI
2020

Beethoven: Sonata No. 31 in A-Flat Major, Op. 110: III. Adagio ma non troppo - Arioso dolente - Fuga. Allegro ma non troppo
2020

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58: III. Rondo. Vivace - Cadenza - Tempo 1 - Presto
2020

Beethoven: Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22: II. Adagio con molta espressione
2020

Beethoven: Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10 No. 3: II. Largo e mesto
2020

Beethoven: Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 "Pathetique": I. Grave - Allegro molto e con brio
2020

Beethoven: Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22: IV. Rondo. Allegretto
2020

Beethoven: Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: II. Adagio
2020

Beethoven: Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22: I. Allegro con brio
2020

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58: II. Andante con moto
2020

Beethoven: Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 "Pathetique": III. Rondo. Allegro
2020

Beethoven: Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109: I. Vivace, ma non troppo - Adagio espressivo
2020

Beethoven: Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10 No. 3: IV. Rondo. Allegro
2020

Beethoven: Sonata No. 20 in G Major, Op. 49 No. 2: I. Allegro ma non troppo
2020

Beethoven: Sonata No. 19 in G Minor, Op. 49 No. 1: I. Andante
2020

Beethoven: Sonata No. 19 in G Minor, Op. 49 No. 1: II. Rondo. Allegro
2020

Beethoven: Sonata No. 20 in G Major, Op. 49 No. 2: II. Tempo di Menuetto
2020

Beethoven: Sonata No. 11 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22: III. Minuet
2020

Beethoven: Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: III. Minuetto. Allegretto - Trio
2020

Beethoven: Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: I. Allegro
2020
Live

Haydn, Mozart & Ravel (Live)
2023

Rachmaninoff: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 (Live)
2021

Debussy: Preludes, Book 1 & 2 (Live)
2021

Beethoven & Brahms: Works for Violin & Piano (Live)
2020

Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonatas (Live)
2015

Beethoven: Emperor Concerto - Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in E Major (Live)
2014

Grandi maestri dell'interpretazione: Guido Cantelli, Vol. 2 (Live)
1987
