The Viennese soul and free improvisation, the emotion of classical beauty and the rhythmic freedom of jazz – for Friedrich Gulda, there were no value judgements, no differences, nothing to separate. Only an all-encompassing love and devotion to music. That led to many misunderstandings.

Friedrich Gulda would have turned 80 last Sunday. A gifted pianist and composer who delighted in experimentation! Friends, companions and his sons Paul and Rico prepared an appropriately multi-faceted celebration in the Konzerthaus: „Play Gulda Play“. A musical embrace.

Martha Argerich, once a student of Gulda’s, together with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra under Erwin Ortner’s sensitive direction, gave an effervescent, expressive and tender rendition of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1. with the Arnold Schoenberg Choir and Paul Gulda at the piano, Gulda’s "Concertino for Players and Singers", in the rhythmic first and third movements, was wonderfully rousing…

Translation by John Allan Moffatt.