Brendel is the kind of serious-minded artist who would find it crass or vulgar to trumpet a string of concerts as a "grand farewell tour" but the word is out that he is retiring from performance at the end of this year. And so a sense of moment infused the atmosphere of Symphony Hall on Friday night, when he performed a Celebrity Series recital that was his final Boston appearance.
OC tips her Stephen Jones hat to the wonder that is Alfred Brendel; and as another maestro once pointed out,
Who you gone find doper than him with no pen
Just draw off inspiration
Soon you gonna see you can't replace him
With cheap imitations for these generations