Anthony Keith Goldstone
Liverpool pianist celebrated for his solo and chamber performances
LIVERPOOL-BORN PIANIST Anthony Goldstone has died at the age of 72 after a short battle with cancer. He took up the piano at the age of five, later studied at the Royal Manchester College of Music, initially in the junior section and later under Professor Derryck Wyndham. After graduating and being honoured with a fellowship, he studied in London with the renowned pianist and teacher Maria Curcio, who had been the last student of Artur Schnabel.
Goldstone’s career was crowned with prizes at international piano competitions in Munich and Vienna. He was in demand as a soloist, playing with all the major British orchestras under such conductors as Sir John Barbirolli, Rudolf Schwarz, Norman del Mar, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Pinchas Steinberg and Charles Mackerras. A high point was his performance of Benjamin Britten’s Diversions, at the Last
Night of the Proms in 1976, after which the composer wrote, complimenting him on “that brilliant performance.”
In 1989, he married the noted musician Caroline Clemmow in Oundle, Northamptonshire. In later years, the couple became a celebrated piano duo, described by Gramophone as “a dazzling husband-and-wife team.” They played and recorded extensively, exploring and expanding the repertoire for duo and two pianos, in tireless exploration of good but sometimes lesser known music. Their last recording together, Vaughan Williams’s Fifth
Symphony on the Albion Records label, won for them accolades from the musical press This CD, aptly called “our miracle CD” by Anthony, was performed and recorded while he was in declining health, and will therefore be a spe- cial memory of a distinguished career to which both Caroline and Anthony have made inestimable contributions.
Anthony was born to Myer Charles Maurice Goldstone, a garment and textile trader, and Rose Kessly, in Liverpool. I was born two years later, with no other siblings. The family moved to South Manchester in 1947 and Anthony was educated at Manchester Grammar School, studying classics, from where he was awarded a scholarship at Cambridge University. He opted instead for a performing career in classical music, always his first love.
Anthony died peacefully at home in Alkborough, South Humber-shire, after his brief battle with cancer. He is survived by Caroline. They had no children.
Anthony Goldstone, pianist. Born July 25, 1944. Died January 2, 2017.