Cor de Groot was a pianist of remarkable ability. He came to the attention of musical Europe in 1943 when he substituted for an ailing Wilhelm Backhaus at the last minute and played the Beethoven third piano concerto at a concert in Germany, clearly very successfully.
A much admired pianist, he performed world wide until 1959 when he suffered from what ws diagnosed as a nervous disorder that affected the use of his right hand. In spite of this, he continued to play music written for the left hand, making many of his own arrangements of two hand piano music for the left hand alone. When the news of his disability reached the musical community in Holland, every Dutch composer of note set to work on piano pieces for the left hand for de Groot to play. The literature tripled overnight.
It is quite likely that what de Groot suffered from was an injury sustained in playing. Much more is known about this today and I shall cover this extensively in a planned but not yet executed section on piano technique, and piano injuries - one of the best kept secrets of the world of pianism.
He also was a composer of some note, though I regret to say I am as yet unfamiliar with any of his own music.
I came across several recordings by Cor de Groot in Paris in 1968 and fell in love with his playing and the sounds he is able to bring forth from the piano. He has a wonderful singing tone, a great sense of structure, and a sensitivity that often belies his technical supremacy.
De Groot's perfomance of the Rachmaninov Melodie is stunning. It is, to my taste, perfectly interpreted, and the piano sings beautifully in every register. This is piano playing of the very highest order. I find it impossible to listen to this performance without a lump in my throat.
Rachmaninov Mélodie in E Major n°3 of Morceaux de fantaisies Op.3
Rachmaninov Prélude Op.32 n°10
Very different music though it is, the slow movement from the Ravel concerto is another marvel of interpretative genius and gorgeous singing tone.
Ravel Piano Concerto in G Major ii. Adagio assai Eduard van Beinum conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra a live recording from 1941
Chopin Waltz in Db Major, Op.64 n°1 Recorded in 1951
And finally two examples of Cor de Groot playing chamber music. Here, with the great violinist Gerhard Taschner, he plays one of the masterworks for violin and piano, the Frank Sonata in A Major, and a movement from a Handel sonata.
Franck Sonata for Violin and Piano in A major Recorded in 1943
i. Allegretto ben moderato
ii. Allegro
iii. Recitativo-Fantasia (ben moderato)
iv. Allegretto poco mosso
Handel Violin Sonata No. 13 in D Major HWV 371 iii. Allegro
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