Teodor Leszetycki

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Theodor Leschetizky
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Theodor Leschetizky

Teodor Leszetycki (sometimes also referred to by a germanised name Theodor Lescheti(t)zky, June 22, 1830November 14, 1915) was a Polish pianist, teacher and composer. He was born in Łańcut, Poland (at the time part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire).

From an early age he was recognized as a prodigy, and after studying in Vienna with Karl Czerny and Simon Sechter he became a teacher at fourteen; by the age of eighteen he was a well-known virtuoso in Viennese music circles. Besides performing, he became a very influential piano teacher, first at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, which he co-founded with Anton Rubinstein, and subsequently in Vienna. His students included many of the most renowned pianists of their time, including Ignacy Paderewski, Artur Schnabel, Alexander Brailowsky, Ossip Gabrilowitsch, Mark Hambourg, Elly Ney, Severin Eisenberger, Mieczysław Horszowski and many others. Leszetycki was also a composer, having under his name over seventy piano pieces, two operas, several songs, and a one-movement piano concerto. He was married four times, his second wife being Annette Essipova (1851-1914), who had been his pupil. In February 18, 1906 he recorded twelve piano rolls for Welte-Mignon including seven of his own compositions. He died in Dresden, Germany.

Leszetycki recording for the Welte-Mignon reproducing piano, 1906
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Leszetycki recording for the Welte-Mignon reproducing piano, 1906

[edit] Literature

  • Brée, Malwine: The groundwork of the Leschetizky method: issued with his approval / by Malwine Brée; with forty-seven illustrative cuts of Leschetizky's hand; translated from the German by Dr. Th. Baker. Mayence(Mainz): 1903.
  • Brée, Malwine: The Leschetizky method: a guide to fine and correct piano playing. English translation by Arthur Elson; introduction by Seymour Bernstein. Mineola: Dover Publications, 1997.
  • Leschetizky, Theodor: Das Klavierwerk. Köln (Cologne): Haas 2000.
  • A. Potocka, Th. Leschetizky (New York, 1903)
  • Annette Hullah, Theodor Leschetizky (London, 1906)
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