Alicia de Larrocha, pictured in New York City in 1978, was a professional concert pianist for 75 years. (Ray Stubblebine/File/AP) Spanish pianist Alicia de Larrocha, acclaimed for her virtuosity in playing Mozart, Beethoven and Rachmaninoff as well as Spanish masters, has died at the age of 86.
Gregor Benko, a music producer and family friend, confirmed that the artist died late Friday in Barcelona. Benko said she had been in poor health for two years since breaking her hip.
De Larrocha retired in 2003 after 75 years as a professional pianist.
Born in Barcelona on May 23, 1923, to two pianists, she was already tinkling the ivories at age three and gave her first public performance two years later at the International Exposition in her hometown.
She was tutored by some of the greatest teachers, including Frank Marshall and Ricardo Lamote de Grignon.
Soloist with symphony at age 11
By age 11, de Larrocha was already a soloist with the Madrid Symphony Orchestra, gaining a name for her interpretations of Spanish composers such as Enrique Granados and Manuel de Falla.
In her 20s she became popular on the European concert circuit, performing to full houses. In 1955, she made her first trip to the United States and toured with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Over the years, she would become a regular feature at the Lincoln Center in New York City.
De Larrocha garnered four Grammys in her lifetime and collected a slew of accolades, including Spain's Prince of Asturias Prize, the Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in France and an honorary doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
She had two children with the late pianist Juan Torra.
With files from The Associated Press
