Juliusz Wertheim
Encyclopedia
Juliusz Edward Wertheim sometimes known as Jules Wertheim, was a Polish
pianist
, conductor and composer
, a member of a prominent family, who had a significant influence on the career of Arthur Rubinstein
.
family of Jewish origin which had converted to Lutheranism. The father of Juliusz, Piotr or Pierre Wertheim, was a stepbrother of Carl Tausig
and a successful banker in Warsaw, though also a short, eccentric and wrathful man. The mother, Aleksandra Klementyna, was the daughter of Ferdinand Leo, editor of the Gazeta Polska, and she was a singer of some accomplishment. In 1893 Juliusz began to take piano lessons from Rudolf Strobl, who sent him on to Berlin to study composition with Heinrich Urban, and piano with Moritz Moszkowski
and Heinrich Barth
. He then returned to the Warsaw Conservatory to study theory under Zygmunt Noskowski
, and graduated with a gold medal in 1901. He also received piano instruction from Józef Śliwiński
. In 1915-1916 he was assistant conductor of the Warsaw Philharmonic. For some years he became professor of instrumentation at the Warsaw Conservatory, and later lived independently as a composer in Berlin
. By 1924 he had written and published 4 Symphonies, many piano works including sonatas and variations, and many songs (Simrock
).
in Warsaw, and the young Arthur Rubinstein
became drawn into it during the first decade of the 20th century, as were Josef Hoffmann
and Paweł Kochański. Rubinstein made numerous sexual conquests among women who had initially set their sights on the homosexual (and thus unattainable) Wertheim. Rubinstein was drawn into the individual lives of the Wertheim family, and described these complicated relationships in his earlier autobiography, My Young Years, using the pseudonyms 'Paul and Magdalena Harman' for Piotr and Aleksandra Wertheim.
Rubinstein was deeply incluenced by Wertheim's approach to the playing of Chopin's music, and stated later that he had largely drawn his own inspiration for playing Chopin from Wertheim's 'deep and intuitive understanding of his genius.' Considering the importance of Chopin's music in Rubinstein's career, and of Rubinstein in the modern understanding of Chopin, that is a very large tribute. He performed Wertheim's Fantasy and Brahms's First Piano Concerto
, Wertheim himself conducting the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, in February 1904. Despite his musical understanding, Wertheim possessed a flawed and unreliable piano technique (as Zbigniew Drzewiecki
, among others, observed): however he was able to encourage several young pianists, including Roman Jasiński
, Bolesław Kon and Aleksander Kagan.
Juliusz Wertheim died of a heart attack while conducting Wagner's Meistersinger Prelude with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra in a broadcast concert, on 6 May 1928.. He is buried at the Lutheran cemetery in Warsaw in the family tomb.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, conductor and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, a member of a prominent family, who had a significant influence on the career of Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein KBE was a Polish-American pianist. He received international acclaim for his performances of the music of a variety of composers...
.
Origins, training, career
Juliusz was born into a prominent WarsawWarsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
family of Jewish origin which had converted to Lutheranism. The father of Juliusz, Piotr or Pierre Wertheim, was a stepbrother of Carl Tausig
Carl Tausig
Carl Tausig was a Polish virtuoso pianist, arranger and composer.-Life:Tausig was born in Warsaw to Jewish parents and received his first piano lessons from his father, pianist and composer Aloys Tausig, a student of Sigismond Thalberg. His father introduced him to Franz Liszt in Weimar at the...
and a successful banker in Warsaw, though also a short, eccentric and wrathful man. The mother, Aleksandra Klementyna, was the daughter of Ferdinand Leo, editor of the Gazeta Polska, and she was a singer of some accomplishment. In 1893 Juliusz began to take piano lessons from Rudolf Strobl, who sent him on to Berlin to study composition with Heinrich Urban, and piano with Moritz Moszkowski
Moritz Moszkowski
Moritz Moszkowski was a German Jewish composer, pianist, and teacher of Polish descent. Ignacy Paderewski said, "After Chopin, Moszkowski best understands how to write for the piano"...
and Heinrich Barth
Heinrich Barth
Heinrich Barth was a German explorer of Africa and scholar.Barth is one of the greatest of the European explorers of Africa, not necessarily because of the length of his travels or the time he spent alone without European company in Africa, but because of his singular character.-Biography:Barth...
. He then returned to the Warsaw Conservatory to study theory under Zygmunt Noskowski
Zygmunt Noskowski
Zygmunt Noskowski , Polish composer, conductor and teacher.-Biography:Zygmunt Noskowski was born in Warsaw and was originally trained at the Warsaw Conservatory studying violin and composition. A scholarship enabled him to travel to Berlin where between 1864 and 1867, he studied with Friedrich...
, and graduated with a gold medal in 1901. He also received piano instruction from Józef Śliwiński
Józef Śliwiński
Józef Śliwiński was a Polish classical pianist, one of the outstanding interpreters of the poetic and romantic repertoire, especially Chopin and Schumann. He was taught by Theodor Leschetizky and Anton Rubinstein. For many years he was professor of piano at the Riga Conservatory...
. In 1915-1916 he was assistant conductor of the Warsaw Philharmonic. For some years he became professor of instrumentation at the Warsaw Conservatory, and later lived independently as a composer in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. By 1924 he had written and published 4 Symphonies, many piano works including sonatas and variations, and many songs (Simrock
Simrock
The Simrock family included:* Nikolaus Simrock, , who founded in 1793 the music publishing firm Musikverlag N...
).
Association with Arthur Rubinstein
The Wertheims maintained an important salonSalon (gathering)
A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to...
in Warsaw, and the young Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein KBE was a Polish-American pianist. He received international acclaim for his performances of the music of a variety of composers...
became drawn into it during the first decade of the 20th century, as were Josef Hoffmann
Josef Hoffmann
Josef Hoffmann was an Austrian architect and designer of consumer goods.- Biography :...
and Paweł Kochański. Rubinstein made numerous sexual conquests among women who had initially set their sights on the homosexual (and thus unattainable) Wertheim. Rubinstein was drawn into the individual lives of the Wertheim family, and described these complicated relationships in his earlier autobiography, My Young Years, using the pseudonyms 'Paul and Magdalena Harman' for Piotr and Aleksandra Wertheim.
Rubinstein was deeply incluenced by Wertheim's approach to the playing of Chopin's music, and stated later that he had largely drawn his own inspiration for playing Chopin from Wertheim's 'deep and intuitive understanding of his genius.' Considering the importance of Chopin's music in Rubinstein's career, and of Rubinstein in the modern understanding of Chopin, that is a very large tribute. He performed Wertheim's Fantasy and Brahms's First Piano Concerto
Piano Concerto No. 1 (Brahms)
The Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15, is a work for piano and orchestra composed by Johannes Brahms in 1858. The composer gave the work's public debut in Hanover, Germany, the following year.-Form:...
, Wertheim himself conducting the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, in February 1904. Despite his musical understanding, Wertheim possessed a flawed and unreliable piano technique (as Zbigniew Drzewiecki
Zbigniew Drzewiecki
Zbigniew Drzewiecki was a Polish pianist especially associated with the interpretation of Chopin's works, who was for most of his life a teacher of pianists. His pupils include several famous pianists of the 20th century, and his influence was therefore very pervasive.Drzewiecki was born in Warsaw...
, among others, observed): however he was able to encourage several young pianists, including Roman Jasiński
Roman Jasinski
Roman Jasinski was a Polish ballet dancer who performed from 1933-1950 with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. A premier danseur, he was recognized for his elegance and style. After retiring from performing, he and his wife Moscelyne Larkin founded a ballet school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and in 1956,...
, Bolesław Kon and Aleksander Kagan.
Juliusz Wertheim died of a heart attack while conducting Wagner's Meistersinger Prelude with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra in a broadcast concert, on 6 May 1928.. He is buried at the Lutheran cemetery in Warsaw in the family tomb.
Sources
- Arthur Eaglefield HullArthur Eaglefield HullArthur Eaglefield Hull was an English music critic, writer, composer and organist.Hull was initially a music student of Tobias Matthay and graduated with a Doctorate of Music from Oxford University...
, A Dictionary of Modern Music and Musicians (Dent, London 1924). - J. Methuen-Campbell, Chopin Playing from the Composer to the Present Day (Gollancz, London 1981).
- Harvey Sachs, Arthur Rubinstein - A Life (Phoenix Paperback, London 1997), 57-66.
- A. Rubinstein, My Young Years (Jonathan Cape, London 1973).