Peter Katin

Peter Roy Katin (14 November 193019 March 2015) was a British classical pianist and teacher.

Biography Katin was born in London; his father was sign-painter Jerrold Katin (who was born in Lithuania) and mother Gertrude. Katin was educated at private schools in Balham, Caterham, and East Grinstead and the Henry Thornton School (then known as the South West London Emergency Secondary 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.

Sergei Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 1 (LPO/Boult) 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 (Clementi square piano 1832) Athene ATHCD5 / Diversions 24112 3 Klavierstücke, D.946; Valses Nobles, D.969; Moments Musicaux, D.780 (Clementi 1832) 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 (Played on a Clementi square piano of 1832.) Athene-Minerva ATHCD7 / Diversions DIV23007 Impromptus, D.899 and D.935 Four Impromptus, D.899 Four Impromptus, D.935 Diversions CD24112

Robert Schumann Kinderszenen, Op. 15; Sonata in G minor, Op. 22; Carnaval Op. 9 Olympia OCD 218 Piano Concerto (LSO/Goossens) (with other works) 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 (with LSO/LPO, cond Edric Kundell, Sir Colin Davis) Olympia OCD 235 Piano Concerto No. 1; Litolff: Scherzo (LPO/John Pritchard) 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 (LPO/Adrian Boult) - Decca SXL 2034

William Walton Sinfonia Concertante (LSO/Walton) (with other works) Lyrita SRCD 224

Ralph Vaughan Williams Fantasia on the Old 104th (LPO/LPC/Boult) (with other works) EMI CDM 769962-2

Others Portrait of a pianist: Bach: Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue; Beethoven: 6 Variations, Op. 34; Haydn: Sonata in G, HobXVI/39; Debussy: Estampes; Liszt: Vallée d’Obermann Olympia OCD 189 Claude Debussy, Children's Corner: Gabriel Grovlez, L'Almamach aus Images; Déodat de Séverac, En Vacances; Jacques Ibert, Histoires; Simax PSC 1067 Peter Katin: 50 years of music making Bach: Prelude and Fugue in B flat minor (from the Well Tempered Clavier – Book 1) Mozart: Rondo in A minor Beethoven: Piano Sonata, Op. 27, No. 2 ("Moonlight") Schubert: Impromptus in G flat and E flat, from D.899 Debussy: Suite bergamasque Chopin: Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op. 61 RP Music RP001