Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

Austria

Birth

:

May 11, 1887 in Vienna, Austria

Death

:

March 3, 1961 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

Paul Wittgenstein was a renowned classical pianist who was born on November 5, 1887, in Vienna, Austria. He was the youngest of three sons born to a wealthy Jewish family. His father, Karl Wittgenstein, was a successful industrialist who made his fortune in the iron and steel industry. His mother, Leopoldine Kalmus, was a talented pianist who instilled a love of music in her children. Wittgenstein began playing the piano at a young age and showed great promise as a musician. He studied with some of the best teachers in Vienna, including Theodor Leschetizky and Josef Labor. He made his debut as a soloist with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 19, playing the Piano Concerto No. 1 by Johannes Brahms. In 1913, Wittgenstein was drafted into the Austrian army to fight in World War I. During the war, he was wounded in his right arm and had to have it amputated. This was a devastating blow to his career as a pianist, as he was right-handed and could no longer play with both hands. Despite this setback, Wittgenstein was determined to continue his career as a pianist. He began working with composers to create new works for the left hand alone. He commissioned pieces from some of the most prominent composers of the time, including Maurice Ravel, Sergei Prokofiev, and Benjamin Britten. One of Wittgenstein's most famous commissions was Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand. Ravel was initially hesitant to take on the project, as he had never written a piece for the left hand alone before. However, he was inspired by Wittgenstein's determination and wrote a piece that has since become a staple of the classical piano repertoire. Wittgenstein's performances of these left-hand works were met with critical acclaim. He toured extensively throughout Europe and the United States, performing with some of the world's leading orchestras. He also recorded many of these works, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations of pianists. In addition to his work as a performer, Wittgenstein was also a dedicated teacher. He taught at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and the Vienna Academy of Music, where he mentored many young pianists who went on to have successful careers of their own. Wittgenstein's contributions to the world of classical music were recognized with numerous awards and honors. He was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art in 1955 and was made an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music in London in 1956. He was also awarded the Grand Decoration of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria in 1967. Wittgenstein continued to perform and teach until his death on March 3, 1961, in New York City. He was 73 years old. His legacy as a pianist and champion of left-hand repertoire lives on, and his contributions to the world of classical music continue to inspire musicians and audiences alike.

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