Richard Burnett (1932–2022), RIP

[makropulos]

I've just heard the very sad news that Richard Burnett (Finchcocks founder and fortepianist extraordinaire) died on Friday, 8 July, a couple of weeks after his 90th birthday. He has often been mentioned on this forum so I thought it appropriate to post something about this sad loss of a lovely human being.

[pastoralguy]

I've just heard the very sad news that Richard Burnett (Finchcocks founder and fortepianist extraordinaire) died on Friday, 8 July, a couple of weeks after his 90th birthday. He has often been mentioned on this forum so I thought it appropriate to post something about this sad loss of a lovely human being.

I’m sure Sean Rafferty mentioned this on his show on ?Monday.

[MickyD]

I've only just seen this sad news and wanted to add my thoughts. Richard's passion for early keyboard instruments inspired so many people. His encyclopaedic knowledge of early pianos was second to none and his enthusiasm for the subject was infectious, through his curator skills at his impressive Finchcocks collection and the many years of entertaining talks and demonstrations he gave to a wide ranging public. A delightful, engaging man who could often be seen inspecting the gardens in his old battered hat, mixing with visitors. He wrote a wonderful survey of early pianos in a handsome book, which I recommend as a fascinating read. One must also remember the extensive collection of discs he made for the Amon Ra label, featuring the pianos in the collection.

[Mandryka]

I listened to him playing a Schumann violin sonata - very muscular playing.

[ostuni]

And a lovely Schöne Müllerin, with Nigel Rogers, released in the mid-70s, recorded on his Conrad Graf. The first time I heard Schubert Lieder accompanied by a fortepiano.

[MickyD]

And a lovely Schöne Müllerin, with Nigel Rogers, released in the mid-70s, recorded on his Conrad Graf. The first time I heard Schubert Lieder accompanied by a fortepiano.

Oh yes, I had that on an old cassette. Did it ever make it to CD? Nigel Rogers sang it beautifully.

[ostuni]

I don’t think it made it onto CD: I had it as an LP. When I was a student at Durham, we had them up to my college to do a concert performance (I'd met Dick and Katrina on a course the previous year) - I remember having an interesting discussion with Nigel about Ian Partridge’s recording (which was how I'd got to know the piece).

[MickyD]

Another nice memory springs to mind, I heard him at the Purcell Room in the Evening with Queen Victoria, in which he played between readings from the wonderful Prunella Scales.