Music
Piano Virtuoso Josef Hofmann Visits Chicago


This "Programme" card provides details of the pieces played by Pianist Josef Hofmann, Cellist Jean Gerardy, and Violinist Fritz Kreisler in Chicago. In addition to individual performances by each musician, all participated in a performance of Anton Rubinstein's Trio, B Major, Op. 52.


[JOSEF HOFMANN.] Programme for Performance, with Cellist Jean Gerardy and Violinist Fritz Kreisler, April 27, 1902, [Chicago?]. 1 p. 3" x 5". Some verso staining from mounting in photo album. Very good.


Josef Hofmann (1876-1957) was born in Krakow in Austro-Hungarian Galicia (Poland) into a musical family. As a child prodigy, Hofmann gave a debut piano recital at the age of 5 in Warsaw. He performed in a long series of concerts throughout Europe, culminating in a series in the United States in 1887 and 1888. Anton Rubinstein (1829-1894) took Hofmann as his only private student in 1892. Over the next fifty years, Hofmann toured and performed as one of the most celebrated pianists of his era. During World War I, he moved to the United States and became an American citizen in 1926. As an inventor, he held more than 70 patents, including ones for pneumatic shock absorbers for cars and planes, and for piano action improvements. From 1927 to 1938, he was the director of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Forced out of the Curtis Institute over financial and administrative disputes, his reputation declined, in part due to family difficulties and alcoholism. He retired to private life in 1948 and spent the last decade of his life in Los Angeles.


In March and April 1902, the trio of Hofmann, Gerardy, and Kreisler joined for a brief tour, performing for audiences from Boston to Minneapolis. On April 23, they performed for a crowd at the Music Hall in Chicago. On April 26, they played at English's Theater in Indianapolis, then returned to Chicago for a farewell appearance at the Grand Opera House at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 27. This program was for a separate performance, likely also in Chicago, that evening.


This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.


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