Remembering Dinu Lipatti

74 years ago today we lost the exceptionally gifted Romanian pianist Dinu Lipatti.

For those of you who don't know him, Lipatti's playing was characterised by melting lyricism, disarming honesty and warmth. Tragically, he died aged just 33, but left us some of the world's finest piano recordings.

Well-worn as it may be, no other recording better summarises the talent of this musician than this, of Bach's Jesu bleibet meine Freude, a choral work transcribed for piano. It was made in the last year of Lipatti's life. The piece lasts for the first 3 minutes 25 of this video (and I believe the uploader just loops it afterwards because it sounds so good, before following it with another, also fine piece). I don't believe anyone can hear this without feeling their heart melt a little.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0085wPebZc