Origins & Early Life

Constantin "Dinu" Lipatti (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈdinu liˈpati] ; 1 April [O.S. 19 March] 1917 – 2 December 1950) was a Romanian classical pianist and composer whose career was cut short by his death from effects related to Hodgkin's disease at age 33. He was elected posthumously to the Romanian Academy. He composed few works, all of which demonstrated a strong influence from Hungarian composer Béla Bartok.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

A relentless perfectionist, Lipatti often prepared many years for major performances, such as four years for Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 and three for Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1. He left a small number of recordings, and they are well-regarded, particularly that of Alborada del gracioso from Ravel's Miroirs suite. In his short lifetime he was highly acclaimed by prominent musical figures of the 20th century, including Yehudi Menuhin, Alfred Cortot, Nadia Boulanger, and Francis Poulenc.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Constantin Lipatti (from childhood called by the diminutive "Dinu") was born in Bucharest into a musical family: his father was a violinist who had studied with Pablo de Sarasate and Carl Flesch, his mother a pianist. For his baptism, which occurred...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Andrew Wyeth — Contemporary (Born in 1917) (1917): Master American Realist Painter known for regional scenes of Pennsylvania and Maine.
• Arthur C. Clarke — Contemporary (Born in 1917) (1917): Pioneering science fiction writer, futurist, and popularizer of space travel.
• Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. — Contemporary (Born in 1917) (1917): Influential American historian and social critic of 20th-century liberalism.
• Alan Silvestri — Contemporary (Born in 1950) (1950): Award-winning composer renowned for epic film scores, especially for blockbuster franchises.
• Arthur D. Levinson — Contemporary (Born in 1950) (1950): Prominent American businessman, former CEO of Genentech, and board member for Apple Inc.
• Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay — Contemporary (Died in 1950) (1950): Pioneering Bengali novelist celebrated for nature and rural life depictions.
• Adalbert Gyrowetz — Shared historical date (03-19 · Died) (1850): Czech-Austrian composer known for symphonies and string quartets.
• Adolf Galland — Shared historical date (03-19 · Born) (1912): German Luftwaffe general and celebrated flying ace of World War II.
• Aaron Copland — Shared historical date (12-02 · Died) (1990): Pioneering American composer, conductor, and critic, known as the "Dean of American Music".
• Britney Spears — Shared historical date (12-02 · Born) (1981): The 'Princess of Pop', an iconic and influential American singer.
• 1917 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1917
• March 19 (03-19) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 19
• 1950 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1950
• December 2 (12-02) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 2