The career of classical pianist André Watts began with a sudden, national broadcast in January 1963. At sixteen years old, he filled in for Glenn Gould with the New York Philharmonic, delivering a performance of Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 that prompted a standing ovation from both the audience and the orchestral musicians on stage.
Early Development and Training
Born in 1946 in Nuremberg, Germany, Watts was the son of a Hungarian pianist, Maria Alexandra Gusmits, and an American non-commissioned officer, Herman Watts. After moving to Philadelphia at age eight, he received his first lessons from his mother. He attended the Philadelphia Musical Academy, studying under Genia Robinor, Doris Bawden, and Clement Petrillo. He graduated in 1963 and subsequently studied at the Peabody Institute, where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree under Leon Fleisher in 1972.
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Following his 1963 debut, Watts maintained a rigorous international schedule. He performed with major ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra. By 1969, his concert bookings were committed three years in advance. His recording career included a long-term contract with Columbia Masterworks beginning on his 21st birthday, followed by later collaborations with EMI and Telarc. He focused heavily on Romantic composers such as Chopin and Liszt.
Academic Tenure and Later Career
In 2004, Watts joined the faculty at Indiana University Bloomington, where he occupied the Jack I. and Dora B. Hamlin Endowed Chair in Music. Despite suffering health setbacks, including a subdural hematoma in 2002 and a nerve injury to his left hand in 2019, he remained active in performance and education. During his later years, he attempted to adapt repertoire for the left hand to overcome physical limitations caused by his injury.
Awards and Professional Recognition
Watts received numerous honors, including the National Medal of Arts in 2011 and the Avery Fisher Prize in 1988. He held honorary degrees from Yale University and Albright College. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he was also elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2020. He died in Bloomington, Indiana, on July 12, 2023, following a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
Fast facts
- Born: 1946, Nuremberg, Germany
- Died: 12 July 2023, Bloomington, Indiana
- Education: Peabody Institute; University of the Arts
- Primary Instrument: Piano
- Notable Award: National Medal of Arts
- Academic Role: Indiana University Bloomington faculty
- Citizenship: United States
- Languages: English, German
Questions readers ask
Which composers did André Watts focus on in his repertoire?
He concentrated on Romantic era composers, specifically Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt, while also performing works by George Gershwin.
What major health challenges affected his performance career?
He underwent surgery for a subdural hematoma in 2002, a ruptured disc in 2004, and a nerve injury to his left hand in 2019.
Achievements
- Debuted with the Philadelphia Orchestra at age nine
- National television breakthrough at 16 with Bernstein (1963)
- Avery Fisher Prize (1988)
- National Medal of Arts (2011)
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