New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-18
LESCHITISzKY, IS,
DIES AT DRESDEN
Worlds Foremost Piano
Teacher and Paderew-
skis Master.
OFTEN HAD 200 PUPILS
AT HIS CONSERVATORY
Married Four Times-Arose at
Noon. Taught Three Hours,
Then Took Leisure.

Dresden. Nov. II (via London) -
Theodor Leschetiszky. the famous
teacher of-the piano, is dead at the age
Of eigh,y-fve. lie lived for many years
at Vienna, but more recently at a viii
lage near Dresden. lie was the prn-
cipal master OF Paderewski.
Leschetiszky made his debut in VI
emma in lS45 and for several years
taught yhe piano at the st. Petersburg
Conservatory.
Theodor Leschetiszky was the most
widely known teacher of pianoforte OF
the last half century. he had in bis
conservatory in Vienna often AS many
as two hundred pupils, and though &c
was, OF course, impossible for him TO
devote his time TO all OF these, any
pupil showing marked ability he at
once placed under his own direction.
He gave up active teaching about two
years ago. when he underwent an
operation for cataract, but up to that
time his work hGa been uninterrupted
despite his advanced age, and not one
OF his five or six preparatory teachers
was able TO accomplish more IN day
than did his aged master.
Leschetiszky was born at Lancut. IN
Galicia, on June %. 1880, and studied
the piano under CZerny As young
man he was well known concert plan
list. who il he did not rise TO the first
rank became widely known throughout
Europe. Nervousness, which grew upon
him. compelled Rim 10 abandon the
concert field and 10 devote himself TO
teaching. For time he was profess
sor in the conservatory in Petrograd,
but I'm 1878 he went 10 Vienna, where
his great fame as a teacher was won.
Here he had among his pupils Pade-
rewski, GabrilowitSch, Annette lssipof,
who afterward became his second VIE;
Arthur Schnabel. Katherine Goodson.
Mark Hamburg and Fannie Bloomfield
Zeisler.
Leschetiszky was man OF strong per.
sonality and great yigor. both OF MIND
and body. He married four times. his
wives usually being his pupils. Nine.
Issipof, who at one time was one OF
the worlds greatest pianists, he mar
ried in 1880. The marriage was dis
solved in 1892, and in 1894 he married
his secretary, Frau DonDamirzka. His
fourth wife was Nine. Rosbowska, who
survives him. Arthur Hinton, the Eng
lish composer, who married Katherine
Goodson. knew the pianist well. having
stayed with him only four years ago At
his villa in Abbazia.
"Leschetiszky WIS wonderful man,
said Mr.. Hinton last night, "a man OF
tremendous energy. widely cultivated,
a fascinating raconteur, man OF great
generosity and large heart. lie was
true child OF Vienna-gay, erratic in
his method of life, and of life and life's
pleasures. He arose about II o'clock in
the morning. and from then until in
the afternoon gave lessons. Then he
ate a large dinner, after which he sal
| leS forth into Vienna. where he spent
the evening in the cafes, talking, sip
ping wine and playing billiards. He
usually got 10 bed about 3 a. m,
ale simply couldn't bear to be alone,
and he loved especially feminine COM
pany--hence, probably, his four wives!
ale was a man of great generosity
Of heart and whenever he felt one Of
bis promising pupils needed help he
gave i, willingly. He had queer
habit of never taking any pay in his
hands. Each pupil when he or she left
her lesson put her money IN an en-
velope ard laid it on the piano. One
day Miss Goodson had played at one OF
Leschetiszky's fortnightly gatherings
. SOIUtlUlUR luhl pAtAN'O Nll' Vlh hiooNHAf
and when at her next lesson she went
to lay the envelope on the piano he
picked it up and returned it to her,
saying:
"My dear, hereafter will take moth
ing from you. Your playing yesterday
overwhelmed me-
any wife remained with him for
three years more, but never again
would ne accept a cent for his lessons.
His compositions were mostly light
pieces for the piano, which his friend
Brahms thought little of. He, however,
returned the compliment by disliking
Brshmss music. Let, despite this mu-
tual dislike, their friendship was unim-
/ paired.
-Four years ago when we visited him
at Abazzia he was rapidly going blind
from cataract, but, though he could
scarcely see the notes. he continued
with his work. Two years ago he un-
derwent an operation, the cataract be-
! ing removed"