Genrikh Gustavovich Neigauz

Neigauz, Genrikh Gustavovich 

(also Neuhaus). Born Mar. 31 (Apr. 12), 1888, in Elizavetgrad, now Kirovograd; died Oct. 10, 1964, in Moscow. Soviet pianist, teacher, and author of works on music. People’s Artist of the RSFSR (1956).

Neigauz studied as a child under his father, the pianist and teacher G. Neigauz, and then under L. Godowski in Berlin and at the School for Advanced Training of the Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (1912–14) in Vienna. He took lessons in composition from P. F. Iuon (1906). Neigauz’ mother’s brother—the pianist, teacher, conductor, and composer F. M. Blumenfel’d—and Neigauz’ cousin, the Polish composer K. Szymanowski, also influenced the formation of his artistic tastes. In 1915 he graduated as an external student from the Petrograd Conservatory.

Neigauz gave his first concert at the age of nine. In 1904, 1906, and 1909 he performed on tour in Germany and Italy. In 1922 he made his debut in Moscow; during the course of 40 years he appeared in many Soviet cities. Neigauz began teaching in 1916. He taught at the Tbilisi School of Music until 1918, the Kiev Conservatory from 1918 to 1922 (professor from 1919), and the Moscow Conservatory between 1922 and 1964; he was also director of the Moscow Conservatory from 1935 to 1937. He was a pianist in the romantic tradition, with a brilliant artistic individuality. His repertoire included compositions by Beethoven, R. Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, A. N. Scriabin, and S. S. Prokofiev. Neigauz performed in ensembles with the violinists P. Kochański (in Kiev), M. B. Poliakin, and D. F. Oistrakh and with the Beethoven Quartet. He established a world-famous piano school. Among his students were S. T. Rikhter (Richter), F.G. Gilel’s, Ia I Zak, S G Neigauz (his son), V, V. Krainev, and A. B. Liubimov. Neigauz wrote a number of works on piano playing. He was awarded the Order of Lenin, Order of the Red Banner of Labor, and various medals.

WORKS

Ob iskusstve fortepiannoi igry: Zapiski pedagoga, 2nd ed. Moscow, 1961.

REFERENCES

Del’son, V. Genrikh Neigauz. Moscow, 1966.
Rabinovich, D. “Genrikh Gustavovich Neigauz.” In Portrety pianistov, 2nd ed. Moscow, 1970.

D. A. RABINOVICH