Gustav Leonhardt dies at 83

His death was first reported by the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad, but the cause was not disclosed. After a concert in Paris on Dec. 12, Mr. Leonhardt quietly announced that he would no longer perform in public.

Beginning in the early 1950s, Mr. Leonhardt became known for his interpretations of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and other composers of the 17th and 18th centuries. Through painstaking historical scholarship, in which he pored over musical manuscripts in European archives, Mr. Leonhardt arrived at a new style of performance that was radical in its simplicity.

Besides his concerts and recordings, Mr. Leonhardt left a legacy as an influential teacher. In classes limited to five students, he taught some of the rising stars of a new generation of harpsichordists, including Christopher Hogwood and Ton Koopman.

“Unlike Bach,” he said, “I never had to teach little hooligans.”