OBITUARY Cyril Smith, pianist

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33610, 12 August 1974, Page 4

OBITUARY Cyril Smith, pianist

I Few English pianists of recent years have been re garded with such affection ■ bv the musical public as Cjril Smith, who died at his 1 home in Surrey on August 2. at the age of 64. While on tour in Russia in 1956. Mr Smith, then at the 1 ; height of his career, suffered '[a thrombosis which perman entlv paralysed his left arm Instead of abandoning hicareer as a pianist, he con tinued to appear on the concert platform with his wifi'. Phvllis Sellick, herself an accomplished pianist, playing music arranged, or newly composed, for three hands Among the composers wh • wrote works for the dim were Sir Arthur Bliss. Gordon Jacob, and Malcolm Arnold Mr Smith was born in Middlesbrough in 1909 He received his advanced must cal training at the Royal College of Music, which he attended from 1926 to 1930 At his first public appear ance in 1929. he played Brahms Second Piano Con [certo in a manner which es tablished him a.-, a pianist of exceptional gifts. Though in no sense a specialist, he was known as a particularly memorable ex ponent of the piano works of the great Romantic composers. In 1934 he was ap pointed to a professorship at the Roval College, and he combined the careers of concert pianist and teacher. Mr and Mrs Smith were awarded the 0.8. E. in 1971 Mr Smith is survived by his wife and two children.