John (Andrew Howard) Ogdon

Pianist, born in Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire, C England, UK. He studied in Manchester, and in 1962 was joint prizewinner in the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. He had a powerful technique, a remarkable memory, and a huge repertory. He also composed, his works including a piano concerto. Illness forced him to give up playing for several years.

John Andrew Howard Ogdon (Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire January 27, 1937 – August 1, 1989) was an English pianist and composer.

Ogdon attended Manchester Grammar School, before studying at the Royal Manchester College of Music (the predecessor of the Royal Northern College of Music) between 1953 and 1957.

He won First prize at the London Liszt Competition in 1961 and consolidated his growing international reputation by winning another first prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1962, jointly with Vladimir Ashkenazy.

John Ogdon was able to play most pieces at sight and had committed a huge range of pieces to memory.

His own compositions include piano works, chamber music, a string quartet and a piano concerto.

Ogdon's health was never good, and his physical constitution was not strong enough to carry the burden of his enormous talent. Ogdon spent some time in hospital and in general needed more nursing than it was possible to provide while touring.

In 1983, after emerging from hospital, he played at the opening of the Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham.

The BBC made a film about his life titled Virtuoso, based on his biography, written by his wife and fellow-pianist, Brenda Lucas Ogdon. John Ogdon was played by Alfred Molina, who won a Best Actor award from the Royal Television Society for his performance.