User:Stefanzoll/sandbox/Klaus Zoll

Klaus Zoll was born on the 27th of December 1944 in Alsfeld, Germany, his father being a composer of note and accompanist to several famous artists. He played the piano since he was seven years old, and at twelve gave a performance in Frankfurt at the Haydn Concerto in D major. His teachers have included Eric Flinsch at the Frankfurt Hochschule für Musik, a one time assistant of Emil von Sauer who himself was a pupil of Liszt-and John Pauer at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He won a number of prizes including the German Chamber Music Competition in Berlin in 1964 at the age of nineteen, and in 1967 he won first prize at the International London Competition Festival.

Klaus Zoll frequently played and broadcasted in Germany, throughout Europe, and many other countries including the USA. His repertoire extended from Bach to the most contemporary composers such as Gerard Schürmannn. He was widely acclaimed, together with Christoph Eschenbach, as Germany’s most outstanding pianist of the post-war generation.

In 1974 he was asked to represent Germany at an international Arts Festival in Glasgow. Since then Klaus Zoll appeared in all the major music centres of the world including the Royal Festival Hall, London, where he scored an outstanding success playing Beethoven’s ‘Emperor’ concerto with the New Philharmonia Orchestra in 1976. In 1977 the English National Orchestra chose him to be their soloist on their first European tour, which included a concert in the Philharmonic Hall in Berlin.

Klaus Zoll released one LP vinyl under the 'Sonar Records (RCA)' label performing Liszt and Schubert.

In 1980 he was invited to become Artistic Director of an international music festival in Alsfeld, which has quickly gained a fine reputation. He would later perform as a soloist throughout the world in every continent, including a performance in the Sydney Opera House and a private concert fo the Sultan of Oman!

In the mid-1990's he relocated to France and became a notable Professor of Music, continuing to teach and perform on a regular basis.

He Died on January 1st 2019.

Klaus is survived by his children from his first marriage to Jocelyn: Anja, Karin, and Stefan, his children Victoria and Nicolas from his second marriage to Marie, his grandchildren Rian, Jawwad, and Ayah, and his great-grandson Rayan.