Italian pianist Maurizio Pollini, virtuoso of Chopin and Beethoven, passes away at 82

Italian pianist Maurizio Pollini, who was a virtuoso of Chopin and Beethoven, passed away at the age of 82 on Saturday according to an announcement from the Milan opera house.

Pollini was hailed as "one of the great musicians of our time and a fundamental reference in the artistic life of the theatre for over 50 years," by La Scala, the chief opera house in Milan, Italy.

Pollini became a fixture at La Scala from 1958 to his last recital in February 2023, performing 168 times in over half a century of performance. He also performed and participated in workshops with students and conferences.

La Scala's statement continued, "Pollini was an interpreter capable of revolutionising the perception of composers such as Chopin, Debussy and Beethoven himself, and of promoting ... listening to the historical avant-gardes, above all Schönberg, and the music of today."

Pollini was a prodigy and at just 18 he became the youngest person to win the Warsaw Chopin Competition.

His death signals the passing of a master of the arts and he will be missed sorely.