Gay piano player famous
Today, the LGBTQ+ society can look to several gay musicians for inspiration, but that wasn’t always the case. Several pioneering openly queer singers paved the way from a time when sexual orientation wasn’t a topic for common discussion.
Indeed, these renowned gay musicians faced tremendous backlash and damage to their careers because of their honesty and openness.
As we examine queer performance art, we pay homage to those who came before us. In this piece, we’ll list some of the most influential names in the queer art movement and their impact on our past and present.
Being an Openly Male lover Musician
Undoubtedly, the amusement industry has approach a long way in accepting and representing LGBTQ+ individuals. However, it wasn't always this way, especially for musicians.
Coming out as a gay musician in the 20th century was no miniature feat. It required immense courage and determination, especially when the music industry was predominantly hetero-normative.
Sexuality was not only a taboo topic for public discussion but could also result in alienation from fans and even cause break to one's career. As such, many gay musicians chose to keep their sexual orientation secret
Liberace
(1919-1987)
Who Was Liberace?
Liberace appeared as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at age 16. He later began giving concerts in over-the-top costumes with ornate pianos and candelabra, playing primarily trendy music. Very flourishing, he hosted his own TV variety series, The Liberace Show (1952–55, 1969), and appeared in films such as Sincerely Yours (1955). With his one-of-a-kind blend of classical training and over-the-top showmanship, Liberace was one of the most famous performers of the 20th century. In later years he performed frequently in Las Vegas.
Early Life
Liberace was born Wladziu Valentino Liberace on May 16, 1919, in West Allis, Wisconsin, his middle identify was taken from one of his mother's favorite production stars—Rudolph Valentino. Petty did she comprehend that her son would develop a devoted following of his own one day.
Both of Liberace's parents were interested in music, and he began piano lessons very first on in his life. A youth prodigy, he began his studies at the Wisconsin College of Music when he was only seven years aged. Liberace started acting with orchestras in his early teens.
Musical Sensation
To make a living, Liberace played
Celebrated LGBTQ Pianists
LGBTQ Pianists have a celebrated history in music and are prominent in a spacious range of genres. The society famous classical gay pianist Vladimir Horowitz is quoted as once saying 'There are three types of pianists: Jewish, gay, and bad'.
Well known artists from the community can be create in classical music (including Sviatoslav Richter, Baron Benjamin Britten, and Percy Grainger), jazz (such as Billy Strayhorn and Tony Jackson), rock (Dee Palmer), and contemporary pop (including Elton John and Neil Milan Amin-Smith). Many are also well-known songwriters, composers and conductors.
A great number of LGBTQ pianists have been known with high honours. These incorporate the Presidential Medal of Release, the Grammy Award, Commandeur de la Legion d'honneur, and others.
A provocative debate has been ongoing as to whether creature LGBTQ has an influence on the individual's musical style and success, and whether it is possible to tell from the playing whether a pianist is LGBTQ. Without doubt, an individuals' character and milieu is reflected in their creative output, whether that be music, art, literature, or any other profession. With historic
15 LGBTQ+ composers in classical music history that you probably already know
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Edward Benjamin Britten is one of the finest composers of English operas, choral works, and songs, many of which he wrote for his life significant other, tenor Sir Peter Pears.
Britten started writing tune as young as nine, when he wrote an oratorio. He studied under Frank Bridge, John Ireland and Arthur Benjamin among others, and was also a fine pianist.
His ground-breaking operas, which include Peter Grimes (1945), and The Turn of the Screw (1954) – and his famous War Requiem – tackle contemporaneous issues around psychology and post-war trauma, as well his retain homosexuality, which was illegal in Britten’s lifetime.
Britten founded the Aldeburgh Festival in Suffolk with Pears and librettist Eric Crozier.
Dame Ethel Smyth (1858-1944)
Ethel Smyth was a prolific composer and an active member of the women’s suffrage movement, and she made no secret of her relationships with women.
Born in South-East London, Smyth studied at the Leipzig Conservatory and there met composers that included Grieg, Tchaikovsky, Clara Schumann and Brahms. Her best-known works are the ope