IRENE SCHARRER (1888-1971)
English pianist

Irene Scharrer is the kind of pianist one comes across very once in a while who reminds one why it is necessary to hear yet another interpretation of one's favorite pieces.    Her technique was refined, with impeccable control and beautiful tone.

She was a pupil of Tobias Matthay at the Royal Academy of Music, debuted at the age of 16, and had a very distinguished career.  She was often the partner of Dame Myra Hess, another Matthay student, in four-hand piano music.  As a soloist, she often performed with conductors of the stature of Arthur Nikisch in Berlin and Landon Ronald in London.

Of the recordings below, I would like to single out the Chopin Fantaisie-impromptu and the B♭ minor Scherzo as being of particular interest.  In the comparison recording of the Debussy Arabesque, I think Irene Scharrer's performance outshines both those of Pouishnoff and Gieseking.  It is at once more subtle and more whimsical.

Purcell  Toccata-Prelude

recorded in 1925