Moriz Rosenthal facts for kids
Moriz Rosenthal (born December 17, 1862 – died September 3, 1946) was a famous Polish pianist and composer. He was a brilliant student of Franz Liszt, one of the greatest composers and pianists ever. Moriz was also friends with many other important musicians of his time, like Johannes Brahms and Johann Strauss II.
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Early Life and Education
Moriz Rosenthal was born in Lemberg, Austria-Hungary (which is now Lviv, Ukraine). His father was a professor. Moriz started playing the piano when he was eight years old, studying with a teacher named Galoth.
In 1872, when he was ten, Moriz began learning from Karol Mikuli at the Lviv Conservatory. Mikuli had been a student of the famous composer Frédéric Chopin, so Moriz learned a lot about Chopin's style.
When Moriz was twelve, he moved to Vienna and studied with Rafael Joseffy. He made his first public performance in Vienna in 1876. He was so successful that after a tour in Romania, he was made the official Court Pianist of Romania at just fourteen years old!
Studying with Franz Liszt
From 1878 to 1879, Moriz studied with Franz Liszt in Weimar and Rome. He continued to work with Liszt until Liszt passed away in 1886.
Moriz believed that a good education was important for understanding music deeply. So, he also studied philosophy and art at the University of Vienna. This helped him become a very thoughtful and skilled musician. In 1912, he was given the title of Kammervirtuoso by the Emperor of Austria, which was a great honor.
Career and Teaching
After studying with Liszt, Moriz Rosenthal performed in many big cities like St. Petersburg and Paris. He also continued his general education.
In 1886, he went back to playing the piano professionally. He had great success in Leipzig and made his first performance in the U.S. in Boston in 1888. He also performed in England in 1895.
Moriz taught piano at the Curtis Institute of Music from 1926 to 1928. Later, starting in 1939, he opened his own piano school in New York City. He lived and taught there until he passed away in 1946.
Recordings
Moriz Rosenthal made about three hours of music recordings between 1928 and 1942. He recorded for several companies like Columbia and RCA Victor. Many people consider his recordings to be some of the best piano recordings from his time. He also made piano rolls, which are like early recordings that could be played on special pianos.
His Famous Wit
Moriz Rosenthal was known for his sharp and often funny comments. For example, when he heard the famous pianist Vladimir Horowitz play a very fast and difficult part of a Tchaikovsky piano concerto, Moriz joked, "He is an Octavian, but not Caesar." This meant Horowitz was very good, but perhaps not yet a true master like Caesar.
Another time, after hearing Ignacy Jan Paderewski play, Moriz said, "Yes, he plays well, I suppose, but he's no Paderewski." This was a funny way of saying that Paderewski didn't quite live up to his own big reputation.
Once, a friend played Moriz's own arrangement of Chopin's Minute Waltz (a very short piece) in a concert. Moriz thanked the pianist "for the most enjoyable quarter of an hour of my life," making fun of how long the short piece felt when played that way.
Towards the end of his life, Moriz lived in a hotel in New York called the Great Northern Hotel. He jokingly called it "more Northern than Great."
Legacy
Moriz Rosenthal taught many students who became famous pianists themselves. Some of his notable students include Charles Rosen, Robert Goldsand, and Jorge Bolet.
A book called Moriz Rosenthal: In Word and Music was published in 2006. It contains his own writings and also includes a CD with some of his recordings.
See also
In Spanish: Moriz Rosenthal para niños
