Busoni, Ferruccio Benvenuto << boo ZOH nee, fayr ROOT choh `bayn` vay NOO toh >> (1866-1924), was an Italian pianist, conductor, and composer. He was considered one of the greatest pianists since Franz Liszt, because of his extraordinary technique and remarkable interpretations. His works include the opera Doctor Faust, completed by his pupil Philipp Jarnach, in 1924; chamber music; and works for piano, and for piano and orchestra. The influence of Liszt, and later of Johann Sebastian Bach, appears in his compositions.
Busoni was born near Florence, Italy, the son of talented musicians. He studied the piano, with instructions from his mother, and appeared in a concert in Vienna at the age of 9. At the age of 15, Busoni was honored for his musical accomplishments by the Philharmonic Academy of Bologna, Italy. After 1894, he lived mostly in Berlin, Germany. He toured Europe and the United States, and taught piano on both continents.
