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William Kapell

American classical pianist and recording artist (1922-1953) · United States · On the map · Musicians · Died at 31

Oscar William Kapell was an American classical pianist. The Washington Post described him as "America's first great pianist", while The New York Times described him as "one of the last century's great geniuses of the keyboard" and Times critic and pianist Michael Kimmelman, writing in The New York Review of Books,...

William Kapell is read about 25 times a day, in 11 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 19 June 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 60 days, one point a day.

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Naumburg International Piano Competition

About this person

The Washington Post described him as "America's first great pianist", while The New York Times described him as "one of the last century's great geniuses of the keyboard" and Times critic and pianist Michael Kimmelman, writing in The New York Review of Books, remarked: "Was there any greater American pianist born during the last century than Kapell? Perhaps not." In 1953, at age 31, Kapell died in the crash of BCPA Flight 304 while returning from a concert tour in Australia.

Country
United States
Category
Musicians
Type
Singer / Musician
Status
Deceased
Dates
Lived 1922 to 1953 · aged 31