BACKHAUS

Evening Star, Issue 19328, 14 August 1926, Page 2

BACKHAUS

William Backhaus, tho world-famed : pianist, who is touring Australia and ■ Now Zealand under tho direction of E. J. Grave:;lock, and who gives his first recital hero on August 24, was born on March 2d (anniversary or Beethoven’s ! death), 1834, in Leipzig. Being one of a numerous family, all of them devoted I to music, ho grew up in a musical atmosphere from his infant days. He began playing before ho was five years old, and was able to transpose pieces into any key at sight before be ever bad any real lessons. At tho ago of six he was brought to Alois Benkendorf, then ono of tho professors at Leipzig Conservatoire of Music, and he studied with him until ho was fifteen. His gifts of transposing astounded all the great_ musicians who came through Leipsig, and to whom ho was presented, and as ho collected autographs at tho time, his album shows many flattering, remarks from famous artists, ono of the most interesting being one of Grieg, who wrote a few bars-of his well-known ‘ Norwegian Bridal March ’ in the key of F, instead of the original key of E, as a souvenir of Backhaus’s playing tho piece for Grieg in F major at tho latter’s request. Of all the great pianists whom Backhaus heard in his young days, bis idol was Eugene d’Albert, and consequently he made up his mind to study with him. With this purpose in view he presented himself at the door of d’Albert, who was then living at Frankfort, and asked that ho be good enough to teach him, and d’Alhert was so amused and so takeVby.snrpri.se that he finally consented. Backhaus stayed in Frankfort for one year.. Backhaus’s first recital in London took place in 190.1, when he was virtually “ discovered,” ‘ The Times ’ calling his performance of the Brahms Paganini Variations “ very extraordinary,” and further testifying that “ nothing could have been more beantiful than the tone .and touch ” displayed in some Schumann pieces. As it happened, Vladimir de Pachmann was present at this recital, being persuaded by his friend Godowslcy, who had heard Backhaus play privately a few days before, and both were among tho first to acknowledge the great talent of their seven-teen-year-old colleague. His success iu London grow from onq concert to the next, and his debut in Manchester, whicn took place at very brief notice, created a furore; he played tho Beethoven G major concerto with tho Halle Orchestra, the great Dr Hans Richhter conducting. Tho latte;- was so delighted with the young artist’s playing that he embraced him after the performance. At the age of twenty he held the position of principal professor of tlie piano at tho Royal Manchester College of Music, the most important English music school out of London, which position, however, ho gs.ve up after one year, as iu tho meantime the whole world was aroused when ho won tho Rubinstein Prize (founded by the/ great Anton Rubinstein, and competed for once every live years) in Paris in August. Tho box plans open on Thursday next.