Der große,  bedeutende Pianist Dalton Baldwin ist tot, unvergessen als gleichberechtigter Begleiter vieler Sänger am Klavier – von Gérard Souzay (mit dem ihm eine enge Beziehung verband) bis zu José van Dam war er aus der internationalen Musikszene der zweiten  Hälfte des vergangenen Jahrhunderts nicht fortzudenken. Über Jahrzehnte war er der Garant seriöser Klavierbegleitung, stets bescheiden, ein bezaubernder und höflicher Mensch, ein witziger Gesprächspartner und ein universell Gebildeter zudem. Die langen Stunden abendlichen Whiskytrinkens in der gemütlichen Zürcher Dachbehausung meines Dirigenten-Freundes Brenton Langbein in dessen verkramter, mit Memorabilia vollgestopfter Wohnung sind mir unvergesslich – was für ein charmanter Künstler war er doch. Wieder ist eine Säule meines langen Musiklebens verschwunden. Rip. G. H.

Born in Summit (New Jersey), Dalton Baldwin (19.12.1931-12.12.2019)  studied at Juilliard School of Music in New-York and Oberlin College before moving to France where he completed his studies under the prestigious direction of Nadia Boulanger and Madeleine Lipatti. He also frequented the classes of Walter Gieseking and Alfred Cortot. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Music – Honoris Causa – from Oberlin College and received the title „Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres“ from the French government. Dalton Baldwin has worked with many of the great singers of our time: Gérard Souzay, Elly Ameling, Frederica von Stade, Jessye Norman, Teresa Berganza, Felicity Lott, Mady Mesplé, Arleen Auger, José Van Dam, Gabriel Bacquier, Nicolaï Gedda, Michel Sénéchal. He has also played for instrumentalists such as Henryk Szeryng, Pierre Fournier and the Via Nova Quartet. Dalton Baldwin was permanent pianist of Gérard Souzay for over three decades, during which time they toured extensively on five continents and made numerous prize-winning recordings. The New York Times review of April 1995 cited their partnership as a “musical marriage made in heaven”. In addition to his annual participation at the International Summer Academy of Music in Nice, Dalton Baldwin gives master classes in Japan, country in which he enjoys immense renown for his great tour of masterclasses and concerts. This exceptional musician, esthete with a huge culture and enthralling pedagogue devotes much of his energy towards discovering and developing the talents of young musicians. He considers the term “accompaniment” misleading. It is, in his opinion, a subtle and fascinating art form that aims for a perfect synthesis of music, poetry and artist’s personality. (Quelle Académie international ètè de Nice)