Irene Scharrer

Who was Irene Scharrer?

Irene Scharrer was an English classical pianist.

Irene Scharrer was born in London and studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Tobias Matthay.

Scharrer made her London début at the age of 16, and gave concerts regularly until June 1958, where she appeared for the last time, playing Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos with Myra Hess. They often performed four-handed compositions together.

Other collaborators included Arthur Nikisch in Berlin, and Landon Ronald in London.

She visited Edward Elgar in 1918 and was promised the first performance of his piano concerto, then being sketched.

Her technique was one of refinement rather than power. Her surviving recordings show her at her best in the smaller pieces of the romantic repertoire, where her impeccable control, fine tone and lack of showiness serve the music well.