Mieczysław Horszowski facts for kids
Mieczysław Horszowski (born June 23, 1892 – died May 22, 1993) was a famous Polish-American pianist. He had one of the longest careers in music history, playing for over 90 years!
Contents
Life of Mieczysław Horszowski
Early Years and Musical Talent
Mieczysław Horszowski was born in Lwów, which was part of Austria-Hungary at the time (now Ukraine). His first piano teacher was his mother. She had learned from Karol Mikuli, who was a student of the famous composer Frédéric Chopin.
When Mieczysław was just seven years old, he began studying with Theodor Leschetizky in Vienna. Leschetizky himself had studied with Carl Czerny, who was a student of Ludwig van Beethoven. People called Horszowski a "wunderkind," which means a child who is amazingly talented.
In 1901, when he was nine, he played Beethoven's First Piano Concerto in Warsaw. Soon after, he traveled around Europe and the Americas, showing off his incredible musical skills as a child prodigy. In 1905, he even played for the composer Gabriel Fauré and met Camille Saint-Saëns.
In 1911, Horszowski decided to take a break from performing. He wanted to study other subjects like literature, philosophy, and art history in Paris.
A Long and Active Career
Horszowski was not very tall and had small hands. However, he used this to his advantage. He focused on music that needed more thinking and less big hand movements. His performances were known for being natural and balanced, showing both intelligence and feeling. People often praised his beautiful sound, which was a common trait for students of Leschetizky.
After World War I, he returned to playing concerts. He was encouraged by the famous cellist Pablo Casals. Horszowski lived in Milan, Italy, until he moved to the United States during World War II.
After the war, Horszowski often performed with other great musicians. These included Pablo Casals, Alexander Schneider, Joseph Szigeti, and the Budapest Quartet. He also played at important music festivals like the Prades Festival and the Marlboro Festival.
From 1940, Horszowski lived in the United States, first in New York City and then in Philadelphia. He became an American citizen in 1948. He performed with the NBC Symphony Orchestra under his friend Arturo Toscanini in 1943 and 1953.
In 1954–1955, he played all of Beethoven's solo piano pieces in New York. In 1960, he did the same for Mozart's piano sonatas. His wide range of music included works by many composers, even modern ones like Igor Stravinsky and Bohuslav Martinů. In 1979, he recorded some very old pieces by Lodovico Giustini on a special old piano called a Cristofori pianoforte. These were some of the first pieces ever written for the piano!
Horszowski played at the White House twice. In 1961, he performed for President Kennedy. In 1979, he played a solo concert for President Carter.
He made many recordings that you can still listen to today. He also taught piano at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Some of his famous students include Richard Goode, Murray Perahia, and Peter Serkin.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1981, when he was 89 years old, Horszowski married Bice Costa, who was also a pianist. Bice later wrote about Horszowski's life and his early years. She even found and recorded some songs he had composed a long time ago.
Mieczysław Horszowski's last public performance was in Philadelphia in October 1991. He passed away in Philadelphia in May 1993, just a month before his 101st birthday. He was still teaching piano lessons only a week before he died!
See also
In Spanish: Mieczysław Horszowski para niños
