Voting Station

Rudolf Serkin

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Musician

The Resume

    (March 28, 1903-May 8, 1991)
    Born in Cheb, Czech Republic
    Classical pianist
    Considered one of the greatest Beethoven interpreters of the 20th century
    Founded the Marlboro Music School and Festival in Marlboro, Vermont (1951)
    Director of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia (1968-76)

Why he might be annoying:

    He was a child prodigy.
    His incessant practicing of pieces he already knew was described as ‘almost a masochistic ritual.’
    He sometimes sang along as he played.
    At the Curtis Institute, he expressed his displeasure with a student’s performance of Brahms’ First Piano Concerto by threatening to throw a chair while shouting, ‘Aren’t you ashamed to treat a masterpiece like this?’

Why he might not be annoying:

    He learned to read music before he could read words.
    He fled Germany for Switzerland when the Nazis came to power, then left for the US when World War II broke out.
    He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1963) and the National Medal of the Arts (1988).
    He was named a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor (1984).
    He and Irene Busch were married for 56 years.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 18 Votes: 44.44% Annoying