CLASSICAL PIANIST BRENDEL RETIRES

Classical pianist ALFRED BRENDEL is to retire next year (08) after six decades of performing on stage. The Austrian musician and poet, who turns 77 in January (08), will give his final concert on 18 December (07) in Vienna, but will continue to appear in public lectures on music and give poetry readings. His New York publicist, Josephine Hemsing, says, "He is playing at the peak of his form. He's in perfect health and he would like to go out at the top of his playing form." Brendel, who is currently touring Europe, will hold his final performances in America in February and March (08) with concerts in cities including New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Montreal, Canada; and Chicago, Illinois - but Hemsing claims it will not be a "farewell tour". She adds, "He dislikes the idea of farewell tours and concerts and prefers just to stop." At his final concert with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, he plans to perform Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 9, known as the Jeunehomme (Young Man).