Peter Katin


Peter Roy Katin was a British classical pianist and teacher.

Biography

Katin was born in London; his father was sign-painter Jerrold Katin and mother Gertrude. Katin was educated at private schools in Balham, Caterham, and East Grinstead and the Henry Thornton School in Clapham, and was admitted to the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 12, four years younger than the official entry age, where he studied under Harold Craxton. Katin made his debut at the Wigmore Hall on 13 December 1948 where the programme included works by Scarlatti, Mozart, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin and Chopin. He went on to give concerts in England, Europe, Africa, the US, and Japan.
In 1952, Katin debuted at The Proms and in 1953 was acclaimed for his performance there of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor. In 1958, he became the first British pianist to make a post-war solo tour of the Soviet Union. In 1961, the composer Bryan Kelly wrote Tango especially for Katin.
Katin specialised in Romantic music, particularly Chopin, and Impressionist music. He was acclaimed for his technical command of the piano. He also directed concertos by Mozart and Beethoven from the keyboard. His final Wigmore Hall recital was in January 2004.
Katin wrote many articles on piano technique and interpretation. He lectured at the Royal Academy of Music 1956–1959, University of Western Ontario 1978–1984, and in 1992 was appointed to the Royal College of Music. He also lectured at Thames Valley University. He supported the Campaign for Homosexual Equality in the 1970s.
In 1954, Katin married fellow pianist, Ewa Zweig, with whom he had two sons, Nicholas and Andrew. After a long separation, they divorced in 1988. He lived in Bexhill-on-Sea. His two sons survive him.

Recordings

Katin's recordings include:
;Ludwig van Beethoven
;Johannes Brahms
  • A Brahms Recital:
  • Peter Katin in Recital: Liszt and Brahms
  • Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108 Orchestral Concert CDs CD3/2009
  • His playing of Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 1 was used as background music to the film The L-Shaped Room.
;Frédéric Chopin
  • Chopin: First and Last
  • Ballade in F minor, Op. 52; 3 Mazurkas, Op. 59; Sonata in B minor, Op. 58; Barcarolle, Op. 60; Polonaise-Fantasie Op. 61 Olympia OCD 186
  • Variations, Op. 12; 4 Mazurkas, Op. 24; Sonata in B flat minor, Op. 35; Ballade in A flat, Op. 47; Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise, Op. 22 Olympia OCD 193
  • Complete Polonaises and Waltzes Olympia OCD 289A/B
  • 4 Scherzos; Fantasy, Op. 49 Unicorn UKCD 2008*
  • Complete Nocturnes and Impromptus Olympia OCD 254A/B
  • 4 Waltzes Belart 450 000-2
  • Polonaise in F sharp minor, Op. 24; Sonata in B minor, Op. 58; Nocturne in D flat, Op. 27, No. 2; Fantasy, Op. 49 Hallmark IMP 30367 02357
  • Peter Katin: A Chopin Recital
;Muzio Clementi
  • Clementi on Clementi
;Edvard Grieg
;Aram Khachaturian;
;Franz Liszt
  • Dante Sonata; 3 Liebesträume; 2 Polonaises; 6 Consolations Olympia OCD 199
  • Peter Katin in Recital: Liszt and Brahms
;William Mathias
  • Piano Concerto No. 3 Lyrita SRCD 325
;Felix Mendelssohn
;Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
;Sergei Prokofiev;
  • Piano Concerto No. 3 Orchestral Concert CDs CD2/2008
;Sergei Rachmaninoff
  • Piano Concerto No. 1 Belart 461 3482
  • Piano Concerto No. 2 The New Symphony Orchestra of London/Colin Davis London ffrr STS 15225
  • Complete Preludes Hallmark IMP PCD2052
;Domenico Scarlatti
  • 14 Sonatas Claudio CR35102-2
;Franz Schubert
  • Impromptus, D.899 and D.935 Athene ATHCD5 / Diversions 24112
  • 3 Klavierstücke, D.946; Valses Nobles, D.969; Moments Musicaux, D.780 Athene ATHCD7 / Diversions DIV23007
  • Sonatas in B-flat, D.960 & A minor, D.537 Olympia OCD 188
  • Drei Klavierstücke, D.946; Valses Nobles, D.969; Moments Musicaux, D.780
  • Impromptus, D.899 and D.935
;Robert Schumann
  • Kinderszenen, Op. 15; Sonata in G minor, Op. 22; Carnaval Op. 9 Olympia OCD 218
  • Piano Concerto Everest EVC 9045-6
;Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
  • Sonata in G, Op. 37; The Seasons, Op. 37a Olympia OCD 192
  • Piano Concerto No. 1; Grieg: Piano Concerto; Litolff: Scherzo Olympia OCD 235
  • Piano Concerto No. 1; Litolff: Scherzo Classics for Pleasure 5 72699 2
Tchaikovsky: Concert Fantasia in G major, Op.56; Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.1 in F sharp minor Op.1 Decca SXL 2034
;William Walton
  • Sinfonia Concertante Lyrita SRCD 224
;Ralph Vaughan Williams
  • Fantasia on the Old 104th EMI CDM 769962-2
; Others