Robert Riefling (1911-1988) came from a family of musicians of German origin, and was active as a pianist and as a teacher. He was a student of Nils Larsen in Oslo, and at the age of eleven he performed solo with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. Three years later he made his professional solo début with a recital in Norways capital. Following studies with Karl Leimer, Wilhelm Kempf and Edwin Fischer he embarked on an international career which was to last for the rest of his life. He had a wide-ranging repertoire, and was the first Norwegian pianist to play the whole of J. S. Bachs Das wohltemperierte Klavier in concert. He recorded the cycle twice, as well as the complete sonatas of Beethoven. Riefling also gave premier performances of piano concertos by Egge, Sæverud, Rivertz and Valen.
