On the day he would have been 95, the musical world gathered at The Barbican to pay tribute last night to Alfred Brendel, one of the truly great pianists of our time. Given the respect in which he was held over a career lasting more than half a century, it was perhaps not so difficult to persuade several dozen top-calibre musicians to give their services in aid of the Alfred Brendel Young Musicians Trust, which supports aspiring pianists.
In addition to the dozen or so soloists, a quaintly titled Orchestra of EnBrendelment, featuring exceptional talents including several soloists in their own right, was mustered under the direction of the ever-inspirational Simon Rattle.
