Gregor Benko
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Gregor Benko (born August 4, 1944 Cleveland, Ohio) is an American writer, lecturer, record producer, and collector-historian whose primary focus is classical piano performance documented on recordings from (or having to do with) the Romantic Era.
Founder, along with Albert Petrak of the International Piano Archives (initially named the International Piano Library but later changed due to state law), Benko attained notice in the 1960s and 1970s, when his work helped lay the groundwork for the "Romantic revival" which continued on into the 21st century. Benko managed the non-profit institution for two decades, attracting Spanish virtuosa Alicia de Larrocha to act as the actual President of the corporation, and building an enormous collection of recordings, scores, memorabilia and associated matter concerning concert pianists. In 1977 Benko donated the collections to the University of Maryland, College Park, where they formed the nucleus of the International Piano Archives at Maryland (IPAM).
Perhaps Benko's most hailed achievement was in unearthing and publishing all known recordings of the Polish virtuoso Josef Hofmann, as well as dozens of historic recordings by other "golden age" pianists. He is also credited with rediscovering and bringing back to public awareness the elderly and reclusive Hungarian piano virtuoso Ervin Nyiregyhazi. The recordings that Benko produced, initially for the International Piano Archives, as well as new recordings he made with Nyiregyhazi that were issued by Columbia Records, were heatedly discussed for a time due to the pianist's enormous dynamic range and willful interpretive style, well-regarded critic Harold C. Schonberg - also a devotee of Romantic pianism - calling one of them "a divine madness." Benko had almost no formal education, but credits his close relationships with Schonberg and Frank Cooper, founder of the Festival of Neglected Romantic Music at Butler University, as the most important professional associations in his life, and considered each a mentor.
Benko's later career has included lecturing, articles, reviews, liner notes, and has been engaged for some time in work on a comprehensive biography of the Polish virtuoso Josef Hofmann.
