Henrikh Gustavovych Neuhaus (30 March (12 April) 1888, Yelisavetgrad - 10 October 1964, Moscow) was a Ukrainian Soviet pianist, teacher, publicist and music and social activist of German descent.
Biography
Heinrich Gustav Neuhaus was born on 12 April 1888 in the city of Yelisavethrad (now Kropyvnytskyi) to a German family. His father, Gustav Neuhaus, also a pianist, after graduating from the Cologne Conservatory, moved from Germany first to Russia and then to Yelisavethrad, where he became the founder of the local music school; his mother, Marcelina Neuhaus (née Blumenfeld), was the sister of the composer, pianist and conductor Felix Blumenfeld, and the famous musicians Sigismund and Stanislav Blumenfeld. The Blumenfeld family had Austrian Jewish roots.
Heinrich received his initial musical education from his father. In 1904, after graduating from the gymnasium at the age of 16, Heinrich Neuhaus made his debut as a performer in Dortmund with great success, after which he undertook a long concert tour of Germany, Austria and Italy - as he believed he was already a finished pianist-virtuoso. Together with the pianist Elman, he performed a beautiful programme of Chopin's works. In Vienna, however, he met the pianist and composer Leopold Godowsky, known for his musical perfectionism. Under Godowsky's influence, Neuhaus realised that although musical talent is a natural gift, the ability to interpret music requires hard work.
After studying with Godowsky in Berlin, Neuhaus studied composition theory under the guidance of Tchaikovsky's pupil, Professor P. F. Ewon. Later he entered the Vienna Academy of Music's School of Advanced Studies, where he graduated with honours.
Upon returning home, Neuhaus took examinations at the Petrograd Conservatory and in 1916 began his teaching career in Tbilisi. After returning to Yelisavetgrad, he worked in the local department of public education. Together with his cousin, the famous Polish composer K. Szymanowski, he organised a chamber society, gave lectures, and promoted the best examples of classical music.
In 1920, Neuhaus became a professor at the Kyiv Conservatory, and in 1922, he began his creative work at the Moscow Conservatory.
Heinrich Gustavovich Neuhaus died on 10 October 1964 in Moscow.
Creative work
Continuing and developing the traditions of piano art, Neuhaus created a school associated with the highest achievements of pianism. Recognised all over the world, Neuhaus's piano school was continued in the work of his students - S. Richter, E. Hillels, J. Zach, I. Zetel, E. Malinin, O. Nasedkin, L. Naumov, V. Kastelsky, V. Krainev, O. Eidelman, V. Voskoboynikov, T. Gutman, A. Ginzburg, S. Mogilevskaya, N. Usubova and many other musicians.
The performing activity of G. Neuhaus became a treasure trove of musical art. His repertoire included almost all fiction piano literature from Bach to our contemporaries. The pianist was a constant friend of many composers and the first performer of a number of works. Neuhaus's vast erudition and great personal charm always attracted young people to the artist. Concert halls, classrooms, and auditoriums where Heinrich Gustavowitz performed were always packed.
Neuhaus wrote brilliant articles and essays about music. His talented book "On the Art of Piano Playing" is widely known.
In Neuhaus's native Kropyvnytskyi, a street was named after him, and a memorial plaque was erected on the house where he was born. The Heinrich Neuhaus Museum has been operating in the city since 1981. On 12.04.2013, at the initiative of Kirovohrad Music College, a bust of young Heinrich Neuhaus was installed.
Family
son - Stanislav Henrikhovych Neuhaus (1927-1980) - Soviet pianist and teacher
grandson - Henry Neuhaus (1961-2017) - Soviet and Israeli pianist and publicist
