The Art of Piano Playing

Heinrich Neuhaus was born in 1888 in Elizavetgrad
(later Kirovograd) into a family of musicians. His
mother, Olga Blumenfeld, was the sister of Felix
Blumenfeld, a distinguished pianist, conductor and teacher.
Horowitz was one of his most famous pupils. Through his
maternal grandmother he was related to Karol Szymanowski
who became a lifelong friend.
Heinrich Neuhaus was, strictly speaking, self-taught, and
the main formative influence on his musical development
came from Felix Blumenfeld. He made his first public
appearance at the age of eleven, playing some Chopin
Waltzes and an Impromptu. In 1902 he accompanied Misha
Elman in a recital in Elizavetgrad. His first solo recital took
place in Germany and Italy while studying under Godowsky,
in Berlin and Vienna. He returned to Russia at the outbreak
of the First World War.
In 1922 he began teaching at the Moscow Conservatoire and
helped to create in 1932 the famous Moscow Central Music
School for specially gifted children. From 1934 to 1937 he
was Director of the Moscow Conservatoire, a post he relin-
quished so as to be able to devote himself entirely to teaching.
Amongst his pupils were Radu Lupu, Emil Gilels and Sviato-
slav Richter who called him an artist of unique genius, a great
teacher and friend. Seldom have artistic gifts been so closely
matched by the qualities of selfless devotion, deep humanity,
true culture and a great capacity for bestowing and winning
friendship. He died on 10th October 1964. This book bears
witness to his achievements as man, musician and teacher.