Theodore Leschetizky

Leschetizky was born at Lancut, Austrian Poland, June 22, 1830. He was first a pupil of his father, a well known teacher in Vienna, but later he became a pupil of Czerny for piano and Sechter for composition. When fifteen years old he commenced teacher, a form of musical endeavor in whcih he was to win the highest distinction. He also studied at the University of Vienna until that institution was closed on account of the revolution. From 1842 to 1849, and gain in 1852, he made highly sucessful tours as a concert pianist, and soon established his reputation. After this he went to St. Petersburg, where he vacame a teacher at the Conservatorium, besides giving many private lessons, playing, composing and acting as conductor to the Grand Duchess Helen during Rubinstein's absences. Owing to ill health he was obliged to leave Russia in 1878, going on tour through Holland and Germany, also appearing in London and again in Vienna. He married his former pupil, nne Essipoff, in 1880, and settled down as a teacher. In this connection he has achieved a very high reputation; among his most famous pupils may be mentioned Mr.s Bloomfield-Zeisler, Gabrilowitsch, Mark Hambourg, Katherine Goodson and Paderewski. As a composer his opera Die Erst Falte has been successfully produced in Prague and Wiesbaden, and his piano pieces, such as the Two Larks are well known to all pianists.