Kempff, Wilhelm Walter Friedrich (1895–1991)

German pianist and composer. He studied piano with Hans Barth and composition with R Kahn. After winning both the Mendelssohn Prizes in 1917, he became a concert pianist. From 1924 to 1929 he was head of the Hochschule für Musik in Stuttgart. He made his London debut in 1951 and his New York debut in 1964. He was best known as one of the finest and most thoughtful interpreters of the classical piano repertory, especially the music of Beethoven.

Works operas König Midas (1930) and Die Familie Gozzi (1934); symphonies and ballets; concertos for piano and violin; string quartets; and many pieces for solo piano and organ.