Sad news from Australia

As Tacitus said, isolated people are ignorant and violent.

I only learned of Geoffrey Tozer's death today and was rather saddened as I think he was a brilliant pianist. I heard him play a few years ago as part of his 40 year anniversary tour. Another great Aussie resident musician, Jan Sedivka (born in Czechoslovakia) died yesterday....I hope someone remembers him too. He was my violin teacher for two years at the Tasmanian conservatorium. An exceptional player & visionary, who fostered the art of string playing like no one else I know in this part of the world.

This was very sad news to learn. I knew about Geoffrey Tozer--I believe through his being in the Leeds Competition many years ago. He deserved greater worldwide recognition and career on that level. Too often, we carve a niche as artists and our country, our world, does not recognize what we do, rather, they steer their attention to other avenues. This is an unfortunate reality. Perhaps, in the least, recordings of Geoffrey Tozer will be respected and heard more frequently, which, after the fact, cannot serve his living career anymore, but can save his name and great talents from falling between the cracks of society.

Agreed. It should come as no surprise but it nevertheless pains me that the Age has so far ignored the tragic death of one of Melbourne's — Australia's — greatest talents. I note that the death of a local rock band bass player gets headline treatment:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/music/magic-dirt-bass-player-dies/2009/08/24/1251001839367.html

Condolences to Dean Turner's friends and family but really, where's the perspective?

At least the 'Australian' is preparing an obituary, to be published next Tuesday.

Sad news - a fine artist.

"No Australian pianist since Percy Grainger has made it onto the leaderboard"

Bit harsh on Eileen Joyce...

While Tozer's personal story was tragic, there are a number of post-Grainger Aussie pianists who have done rather well:

Geoffrey Douglas Madge
Eileen Joyce
Roger Woodward
Geoffrey Lancaster
Noel Mewtown-Wood
Ian Munro
Piers Lane
Geoffrey Parsons
Stephanie McCallum
Bruce Hungerford
Leslie Howard
Michael Kieran Harvey
....

Others who adopted it as their country were very notable:
Isador Goodman
Stephen Hough

Norman,

I agree that Geoffrey Tozer was one of Australia's finest pianists and that his passing leaves us all the poorer.

I disagree though that he was "batting alone". It has to be acknowledged that pianistic comparisons between Australia and its Commonwealth cousin, Canada, tend to favour the latter - I can't think of an Australian pianist who has the cult following of a Gould, a Hewitt or a Hamelin. That said, we do have some excellent pianists who deserve more than a little respect and acclaim.

Three examples that come immediately to mind are:
1. Piers Lane - this chap can play anything, and often does. His superb recordings for EMI and Hyperion sepak more eloquently than I can for his qualities. Lane is also an exceptional partner in Lieder. Just ask Peter Coleman-Wright or Cheryl Barker.
2. Leslie Howard - has anyone else played more Liszt?
3. Ian Munro - like, Lane, a versatile and widely recorded pianist. Also a Leeds Competition stand-out and a highly respected all-round musician.