Josef Hofmann

Trackimage Playbut Trackname Playbut Trackname
Valse Caprice in E flat major 05:39 Tools
Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 14 05:30 Tools
Piano Concerto in E minor, Op. 11: II. Romanza - Larghetto 08:33 Tools
Forest Elves - Elfen Tanz, Op. 70 No. 5 02:05 Tools
Piano Concerto in E minor, Op. 11: III. Rondo - Vivace 09:05 Tools
Turkish March (from "Ruins of Athens") 09:05 Tools
Piano Concerto in E minor, Op. 11: I. Allegro maestoso 14:01 Tools
Scherzo, Op. 20 In B Minor 07:08 Tools
Troisième Étude de Concert, Op. 103 03:41 Tools
Prelude in G minor, Op. 23, No. 5 03:45 Tools
Prelude in C sharp minor, Op. 3, No. 2 03:42 Tools
Waltz in A flat major, Op. 34, No. 1 04:47 Tools
Polonaise in A major, Op. 40, No. 1: Military 05:16 Tools
Spinning Song, Op. 67, No. 4 01:48 Tools
Nocturne in D flat, Op. 27 No. 2 07:38 Tools
Scherzo in B flat minor, Op. 31 08:51 Tools
Concerto N. 1 In Mi Minore Per Pianoforte, Op. 11: III. Rondò Vivace (Chopin) 08:51 Tools
Nocturne 02:20 Tools
Rondo - Perpetual Motion, from Sonata No. 1 in C major, Op. 24 04:05 Tools
Caprice Espagnol in A Major, Op. 37 04:05 Tools
Kaleidoscope, Op. 40 04:46 Tools
Pastorale and Capriccio 04:05 Tools
Venezia e Napoli, S. 159: III. Tarantella 09:42 Tools
Chopin : Piano Concerto No.2 In F Minor, Op.21 : II. Larghetto 08:06 Tools
Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 In B-Flat Minor: I. Grave 07:17 Tools
Berceuse, Op. 57 In D-Flat Major 03:30 Tools
Schubert-Liszt: Der Erlkonig 08:06 Tools
Spring Song No. 6, Op. 62 08:06 Tools
Concerto N. 4 In Sol Maggiore Per Pianoforte, Op. 58: II. Andante Con Moto (Beethoven) 08:06 Tools
Sanctuary 02:26 Tools
Schubert-Tausig: Marche militaire No.1 02:26 Tools
Concerto N. 4 In Sol Maggiore Per Pianoforte, Op. 58: III. Rondò (Beethoven) 09:35 Tools
Melody in F Major, Op. 3, No. 1 07:17 Tools
Liszt: Tarantella (Venezia e Napoli) 04:42 Tools
Beethoven-Rubinstein - Turkish March 02:19 Tools
Annees De Pelerinage, 2nd Year, Italy Supplement, S162/R10: Venezia E Napoli: Iii. Tarantella 04:42 Tools
Concerto N. 1 In Mi Minore Per Pianoforte, Op. 11: I. Allegro Maestoso (Chopin) 15:24 Tools
Liszt - The Maiden's Wish 02:19 Tools
Gluck-Brahms - Gavotte in A 03:38 Tools
Rachmaninoff - Prelude in G minor, Op. 23 No. 5 03:32 Tools
"La Jongleuse" 04:43 Tools
Chopin - Berceuse 03:32 Tools
Parker - Valse Gracile 03:32 Tools
Concerto N. 1 In Mi Minore Per Pianoforte, Op. 11: II. Allegretto (Chopin) 03:32 Tools
Die Ruinen von Athen (The Ruins of Athens), Op. 113 (arr. for piano): Die Ruinen von Athen (The Ruins of Athens), Op. 113: Turkish March (arr. for piano) 01:56 Tools
Etincelles, Op. 36, No. 6 03:51 Tools
Moszkowski: La Jongleuse 01:40 Tools
Rachmaninoff - Prelude in C sharp minor, Op. 3 No. 2 01:56 Tools
Erich Walter Sternberg: Etude No.3 in c min 03:45 Tools
Rachmaninov Sergey/ Prelude g moll N 5, op. 23 03:45 Tools
Beethoven : Piano Concert No.4 in G Major, Op. 58 : I. Allegro Moderato 02:20 Tools
Mendelssohn: the Bee's Wedding 01:45 Tools
Scarlatti-Tausig - Pastorale e capriccio 04:43 Tools
Wagner-Brassin - Magic Fire Music 01:40 Tools
Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 04:43 Tools
Beethoven : Piano Concert No.5 in E Flat Major, Op.73 : II. Adagio Un Poco Mosso 07:41 Tools
Nocturne (Complaint) ''Mignonettes'': Nocturne 02:20 Tools
Waltz for piano No. 2 in A flat major, Op. 34/1, CT. 208 03:48 Tools
Concerto N. 4 In Sol Maggiore Per Pianoforte, Op. 58: I. Allegro Moderato (Beethoven) 01:40 Tools
Liszt - My Darling 03:51 Tools
Scherzo, Op. 39 In C-Sharp Minor 05:34 Tools
Sommerfugl 04:30 Tools
Chopin: Polonaise in A, Military 02:20 Tools
Mendelssohn: Hunting Song 03:51 Tools
Hofmann - Nocturne 02:20 Tools
Mendelssohn: Rondon capriccioso 02:20 Tools
Birds at Dawn, Op 20/2 07:57 Tools
Song without Words for piano No. 34 in C major ('Spinnerlied'), Op. 67/4 01:45 Tools
Rubinstein - Melody in F 03:11 Tools
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 in C-Sharp Minor, S. 244 12:08 Tools
Chopin: Piano Concerto No.2 In F Minor, Op.21: II. Larghetto 03:37 Tools
Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 In B-Flat Minor: II. Scherzo 05:52 Tools
Etude for piano No. 3 in C minor, Op. 120 03:48 Tools
Chopin - Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20 (abridged) 02:20 Tools
Moszkowski: Capriccio espagnole 04:30 Tools
Liszt - Etude de Concert No. 1 03:20 Tools
Mendelssohn: Spring Song 02:44 Tools
Nocturne for piano No. 5 in F sharp major, Op. 15/2, CT. 112 03:35 Tools
Scherzo, Op. 31 In B-Flat Minor 07:57 Tools
Prelude for piano No.6 in G minor, Op. 23/5 03:39 Tools
Fantasy-Impromptu for piano in C sharp minor, Op. 66, CT. 46 03:37 Tools
Berceuse for piano in D flat major, Op. 57, CT. 7 03:13 Tools
Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 In B-Flat Minor: III. Presto 09:42 Tools
Marche Militaire for Piano No. 1 in D Major, D. 733 03:37 Tools
Barcarolle for piano No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 45bis 02:44 Tools
Chopin Fantasy Impromptu 02:44 Tools
Beethoven : Piano Concert No.4 in G Major, Op. 58 : III. Rondo: Vivace 03:48 Tools
Melodies (2) for piano, Op. 3: Melody in F 03:11 Tools
Dillon - Birds at Dawn 02:44 Tools
Marche Militaire for piano, 4 hands in D major, D. 733/1 (Op. 51/1) 03:07 Tools
Waltz-Caprice, for piano in E flat major 02:15 Tools
Menuet celebre, humoresque de concert for piano in G major, Op. 14/1 01:53 Tools
Turkish March Piano Roll 01:45 Tools
Waltz in A flat, Op. 42 04:09 Tools
Grande valse brillante No. 1, in A-Flat, Op. 34 03:46 Tools
Chopin: Waltz in E minor, Op. Posth 02:28 Tools
Rondo capriccioso, for piano in E major, Op. 14: Abridged 02:28 Tools
Beethoven : Piano Concert No.4 in G Major, Op. 58 : II. Andante Con Moto 09:42 Tools
Hofmann: Sanctuary 02:26 Tools
Fantasiestuck ('Warum?'), for piano, Op.12/3 03:39 Tools
Polonaise for piano No. 3 in A major ('Military'), Op. 40/1, CT. 152 03:05 Tools
Rubinstein: Valse-caprice 03:37 Tools
Waltz for piano No. 7 in C sharp minor, Op. 64/2, CT. 213 03:13 Tools
Chopin - Nocturne in F sharp, Op. 15 No. 2 07:57 Tools
Sonata No.2 in B flat minor, Op.35 08:29 Tools
Schumann: Warum 08:29 Tools
Mazurka in B Minor 04:09 Tools
Melodies From Orfeo Et Euridice 08:29 Tools
Song without Words for piano No. 30 in A major, Op. 62/6 05:17 Tools
Chopin - Waltz in C sharp minor, Op. 3 No. 2 08:29 Tools
La Jongleuse (Steinwayh built a specially samller piano for his prodigy hands) 08:29 Tools
Chopin: Waltz in A flat, Op. 34 no.1 03:48 Tools
Waltz for piano in E minor, KK IVa/15, CT. 222 (B. 56) 02:28 Tools
Waldesrauschen (Forest Murmurs), for piano (Zwei Konzertetuden No. 1), S. 145/1 (LW A218/1) 02:28 Tools
Paride ed Elena, opera in 5 acts, Wq. 39: Gavotte in A 05:17 Tools
Chopin - Military Polonaise 03:48 Tools
Grieg: Butterfly 01:53 Tools
Etude for piano 'La jongleuse,' Op. 52/4 04:57 Tools
Ruins of Athens, incidental music, Op. 113: Turkish March 02:19 Tools
Song without Words for piano No. 3 in A major, Op. 19b/3 02:15 Tools
Nocturne in F minor, Op. 55, No. 1 05:28 Tools
Beethoven : Piano Concert No.5 in E Flat Major, Op.73 : I. Allegro 06:16 Tools
Der Erlkönig, No. 4 04:54 Tools
Kaleidoskop 04:16 Tools
Liszt: Liebestraum No. 3 03:39 Tools
Paderewski: Minuet 03:37 Tools
Valse Gracile, for piano, Op. 49/3 03:39 Tools
Chopin : Piano Concerto No.1 In E Minor, Op.11 : III. Rondo: Vivace 09:42 Tools
Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 In E Minor, Op. 11 2. Romance (Larghetto) 03:37 Tools
Schmetterling (Butterfly), lyric piece for piano, Op. 43/1 01:53 Tools
Erlkonig ('Wer reitet so spдt'), song for voice & piano, D. 328 (Op. 1) 04:57 Tools
Caprice espagnol, for piano, Op. 37 03:07 Tools
Liebestraum No. 3, in A-Flat 03:35 Tools
Rubinstein : Piano Concerto No.4 In D Major : III. Allegro 09:18 Tools
Waldvogeleins Lust, Op. 55 01:45 Tools
Berceuse in D flat, Op. 57 09:42 Tools
Polonaise in A flat, Op. 53: Heroic 02:15 Tools
Chants Polonais (6), transcription for piano (after Chopin Op. 74), S. 480 (LW A193): The Maiden's Wish 03:51 Tools
Polonaise for piano No. 3 in A major (''Military''), Op. 40/1, CT. 152 03:07 Tools
Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 In E Minor, Op. 11 3. Rondo (Vivace) 02:15 Tools
Polonaise in A flat, Op. 53, Heroic 06:16 Tools
Marche Militaire, No. 1 , in D 04:24 Tools
Rubinstein :Piano Concerto No.4 In D Major : II. Andante 02:26 Tools
The Sanctuary 02:26 Tools
Anton Rubinstein: Contredanse A, no. 3 from Le Bal, op. 14 01:23 Tools
Liebestraume, notturno for piano No. 3 in A flat major ('O Lieb, so lang du lieben kannst'), S. 541/3 (LW A103/3) 04:42 Tools
Parker: Valse gracile 00:00 Tools
Sonata for keyboard in C major, K. 513 (L. S3) 00:00 Tools
Beethoven : Piano Concert No.5 in E Flat Major, Op.73 : III. Rondo : Allegro 02:26 Tools
Interview with Josef Hofmann 03:39 Tools
Hungarian Rhapsody, for piano No. 2 (the ''original'' No. 2) in C sharp minor (I & II), S. 244/2 (LW A132/2) 05:17 Tools
Schumann : Piano Concerto In A Minor, Op.54 : I. Allegro Affettuoso 03:51 Tools
Die Walkure (The Valkyrie), opera, WWV 86b: Magic Fire Music 05:17 Tools
Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 In F Minor, Op. 21 3. Allegro Vivace 02:19 Tools
La Jongleuse 01:40 Tools
Nocturne in D flat, Op. 27, No. 2 07:36 Tools
Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20 08:04 Tools
Jägerlieder, Op. 19, No. 3 02:13 Tools
Valse, No. 2, in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 64 03:25 Tools
Rubinstein :piano Concerto No.4 In D Major : I. Moderato 12:08 Tools
12 Lieder von Franz Schubert, S.558: No. 4, Erlkönig 08:41 Tools
Chopin-Hofmann: Waltz (D-flat) Op. 64, No. 1 "Minute" 02:26 Tools
Valse-Impromptu in A-Flat Major, S. 213 05:17 Tools
Fantasiestücke, No. 3, Op. 12 Warum 01:09 Tools
Tarantelle di bravura d'apres la tarantella de La Muette de Portici, for piano (after Auber: 3 versions), S. 386 (LW A125) 04:42 Tools
Prelude for piano No.1 in C sharp minor (''The Bells of Moscow''), Op. 3/2 00:00 Tools
Fantasiestücke, Op. 12, No. 2 "Soaring" 02:26 Tools
Scherzo for piano No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20, CT. 197: Abridged 00:00 Tools
Meine Freuden, transcription for piano (after Chopin, Op. 74/12, Chants polonais No. 5), S. 480/5, (LW A193/5): My Darling 03:51 Tools
Impressions for Piano, No. 3 "The Sanctuary" 03:48 Tools
Valse caprice, in E-Flat 05:03 Tools
Papillon No. 1, Op. 43 01:52 Tools
Chopin: Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, op. 52 04:09 Tools
Anton Rubinstein: Contredanse B, no. 3 from Le Bal, op. 14 01:26 Tools
Schumann : Piano Concerto In A Minor, Op.54 : III. Allegro Vivace 00:00 Tools
Chopin: Waltz (D-flat) Op. 64, No. 1 "Minute" 01:43 Tools
Sonata No. 2 in Bbm, Op. 35 - Dopio movimento 08:41 Tools
Fantaisie-Impromptu No. 1, in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 66 04:09 Tools
Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata I Adagio sostenuto 04:47 Tools
Polonaise in A major, Op. 40, No. 1, Military 05:19 Tools
Scherzo in C sharp minor, Op. 39 06:08 Tools
Waltz in E Minor, Op. Posth. 02:09 Tools
Valse in A-Flat, Op. 42, "Grande Valse Nouvelle" 03:43 Tools
Nocturne ('Complaint') 02:26 Tools
Valse gracile 02:26 Tools
Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 in e, Op. 11, I Allegro Maestoso 00:00 Tools
Beethoven : Sonata No.14 In C Sharp Minor Op.27 No.2 Moonlight : I. Adadgio Sustenuto 00:00 Tools
Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata II Allegretto 02:44 Tools
Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 In F Minor, Op. 21 2. Larghetto 03:51 Tools
Piano Sonata 14, Op. 27, No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor "Moonlight Sonata" 04:08 Tools
Nocturne No. 1, in E flat : I. Larghetto 04:31 Tools
Impromptu No. 1, in A-Flat, Op. 29 03:41 Tools
Murmures de la forêt, études de concert No. 1 03:18 Tools
Valse No. 1, in D-Flat, Op. 64, "Minute": I. Molto Vivace 01:38 Tools
Impromptu No. 1, in A-Flat, Op. 29: I. Allegro assai quasi presto 03:39 Tools
Hofmann: The Sanctuary 02:26 Tools
Grande Valse Brillante No. 1, in A-Flat, Op. 34: I. Vivace - Recording February 13, 1918 03:48 Tools
Valse-Impromptu in A-Flat Major, S.213 05:17 Tools
Scarlatti/Tausig: Pastorale e capriccio 00:00 Tools
The Bee'S Wedding 01:45 Tools
Etude No. 9, in G-Flat, Op. 25, "Butterfly's Wings'": I. Assai allegro 01:09 Tools
Schubert-Tausig: Marche Militaire 02:26 Tools
Mendelssohn: Song Without Words, op. 38, no. 5, 'Passion' 02:15 Tools
Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata III Presto agitato 02:26 Tools
Frühlingslied, Op. 62, No. 6 02:42 Tools
Miscellaneous pieces in 9 books, No. 7, Op. 93 El Dachtarawan 01:31 Tools
Sonata for Piano No. 14, in C-Sharp Minor, Op.27, No. 2 : I. Adagio sostenuto 1st movement Moonlight 05:00 Tools
Etude for the Left Hand Alone in C Major, Op. 32 05:00 Tools
Stojowski: Caprice Orientale, Op. 10, No. 2 03:10 Tools
Piano Sonata 14, Op. 27, No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor "Moonlight Sonata": I. Adiago sostenuto 03:10 Tools
Der Erlkonig 05:07 Tools
Liadov Musical Snuff Box 05:00 Tools
Turkish March, from "The Ruins of Athens", Op. 113 01:45 Tools
Sonata No. 2 in Bbm, Op. 35 - Scherzo 05:00 Tools
Fantaisie-Impromptu No. 1, in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 66: I. Allegro agitato 04:09 Tools
Sonata No. 2 in Bbm, Op. 35 - Finale 04:09 Tools
Schumann: Warum? 00:00 Tools
Moszkowski - La Jongleuse 05:17 Tools
Rachmaninoff Prelude in G Minor, Op. 23 No. 5 05:17 Tools
Pastorale e capriccio 01:09 Tools
Chopin: Waltz in E-flat, op. 18 'Valse Brillante' 01:09 Tools
Mendelssohn Rondo Capriccioso in E, Op. 14 01:09 Tools
Chopin: Polonaise, Op.40 No.1, A major 01:09 Tools
'Spring Song' 02:44 Tools
Prokofiev March, Op. 12 No. 1 02:44 Tools
Liadov - Musical Snuff Box 02:26 Tools
Chopin Waltz in A-flat, Op. 42 02:26 Tools
Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 14 (Abridged) 03:44 Tools
Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 in f, Op. 21, I Maestoso 03:44 Tools
Capriccio Espagnole, Op. 37 (Abridged) 04:30 Tools
Minuet Celebre In G, Op. 14 No. 1 03:37 Tools
Polonaise In A, Op. 40 No. 1 'Military' 03:05 Tools
Waltz in A Flat, Op. 34 No. 1 'Valse Brillante' 03:48 Tools
Butterfly (from: Lyric Pieces, Op. 43) 01:53 Tools
Magic Fire Music 03:48 Tools
Valse, in E Minor, Op. posth. 02:09 Tools
Polonaise, Op. 40, in A, No. 1 03:02 Tools
Berceuse, Op. 20, No. 5 01:44 Tools
Fantasiestücke, No. 3, Op. 12 Warum 02:35 Tools
Turkish March 02:35 Tools
Spinnerlied No. 4, Op. 67, The Bee's Wedding 01:44 Tools
Scherzo No. 1 in Bm, Op. 20 01:44 Tools
Chopin - Berceuse in D-flat, Op. 57 03:12 Tools
Polonaise in Ab, Op. 53 - Heroic 03:12 Tools
Nocturne in Fm, Op. 55, No. 1 03:12 Tools
Berceuse, in D-Flat, Op. 57 03:10 Tools
Beethoven: Turkish March 02:19 Tools
Ballade No. 1, in G Minor, Op. 23 08:30 Tools
Josef Hofmann 04:47 Tools
Schubert-Liszt - Erlkonig, D328 04:47 Tools
Waltz in Ab, Op. 42 04:47 Tools
Melody in F 04:47 Tools
Liszt - Tarantella from Venezia e Napoli 04:47 Tools
Grande Valse Brillante No. 1, in A-Flat, Op. 34: I. Vivace - Recording March 24, 1945 05:07 Tools
Chopin: Waltz in A-flat, op. 42 05:07 Tools
Prelude in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 3, No. 2 04:09 Tools
Chopin - Waltz No.2 in A flat major 'Grande Valse Brillante', Op.34 no.1 05:07 Tools
Spring Song 05:07 Tools
Scarlatti-Tausig - Pastorale 05:07 Tools
Valse No. 2, in C.Sharp Minor, Op. 64: I. Tempo Giusto 03:26 Tools
Chopin: Ballade No. 1, Op. 23 in g 03:26 Tools
Beethoven: Waldstein Sonata III Rondo: Allegretto moderato--Prestissimo 03:26 Tools
Liszt- Hungarian Rhapsody No.2, S244 in C sharp minor 02:19 Tools
Rachmaninoff: Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op.3 No.2 03:26 Tools
Barcarolle No. 2 for piano in A Minor 03:26 Tools
Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 58 - I Allegro Moderato 02:19 Tools
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11: I. Allegro maestoso 02:19 Tools
Beethoven: Waldstein Sonata I Allegro con brio 02:19 Tools
Liszt: Concert Etude No. 1, 'Waldesrauschen' 02:19 Tools
Paderewski: Minuet in G 02:19 Tools
Mendelssohn Song Without Words in A, Op. 62 No. 6, 'Spring Song' 02:19 Tools
Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 in e, Op. 11, III Rondo - Vivace 02:26 Tools
La Jongleuse (Steinway built a specially smaller piano for his prodigy hands) 02:26 Tools
Chopin Berceuse in D-flat, Op. 57 02:26 Tools
Chopin Waltz in D-flat, Op. 64 No. 1, 'Minute' 02:26 Tools
Mendelssohn Song Without Words in C, Op. 67 No. 4, 'Spinning Song' 02:26 Tools
Liszt: Venezia e Napoli - 'Tarantella' 02:26 Tools
Chopin-Liszt: Chant Polonaise, 'The Maiden's Wish' 02:26 Tools
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 02:26 Tools
Chopin: Fantasie-Impromptu, C sharp minor, Op.66 02:26 Tools
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58: II. Andante con moto 02:26 Tools
Chopin Etide in G-flat, Op. 25 No. 9, 'Butterfly' 02:26 Tools
Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 in f, Op. 21, II Larghetto 02:26 Tools
Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 in f, Op. 21, III Allegro Vivace 02:26 Tools
'Hunting Song' 02:15 Tools
Chopin Polonaise in A, Op. 40 No. 1, 'Military' 02:15 Tools
Erlkong-Schubert (Franz Liszt) 04:57 Tools
Marche Militaire No. 1 In D-Schubert (Carl Tausig) 04:24 Tools
Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 58 - II Andante con moto 04:24 Tools
La Jongleuse, Op. 52 No. 4 01:40 Tools
Etude No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 120 01:40 Tools
Tarantella 04:42 Tools
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Józef Kazimierz Hofmann (born January 20, 1876 in Kraków, Austria-Hungary; died February 16, 1957 in Los Angeles), was a Polish-American virtuoso pianist and composer. Many connoisseurs consider him one of the greatest pianists of all time.[1] He was a child prodigy who played a long series of sensationally received concerts throughout Europe and Scandinavia at the age of ten, culminating with a series of concerts in America in late 1887 and early 1888 at which he became a media celebrity. Following controversy over alleged child exploitation, Alfred Corning Clark donated $50,000 for Hofmann to retire from the stage until the age of 18[2]. Clarke's donation made possible studies with the famous teacher and composer Moritz Moszkowski and Russian virtuoso and composer Anton Rubinstein. Hofmann became Rubinstein's only private pupil and later, his leading disciple. Hofmann was also a gifted inventor who invented mechanisms for the piano and automobiles, with numerous patents to his credit. Rubinstein arranged Hofmann's debut as a mature pianist, which took place in Hamburg, Germany on March 14, 1894. Hofmann played Rubinstein's Piano Concerto No. 4 in D minor with the composer on the podium. After this concert, Hofmann reentered the life of a touring virtuoso. Especially popular in Russia, he gave 21 consecutive concerts in St. Petersburg, not repeating a single piece. In all, he played 255 different works during that marathon[3] Once Hofmann had learned a piece of music, it was apparently in his mind and fingers for good. This was fortunate for Hofmann, for he reportedly never practiced. In the diary his wife kept during his 1909 tour, she mentions his raising his eyebrows when he saw Brahms' Handel Variations on a program—a piece he had not played or even looked at for two and a half years. He played the work at the concert without a thought or hesitation[4]. Hofmann, reportedly, also had the ability to hear a composition just once and play it back flawlessly without seeing the printed note. Again, this was fortunate—Hofmann was a poor sight reader. Rosina Lhevinne, wife of pianist Josef Lhevinne and a virtuoso pianist in her own right, claimed Hofmann heard her husband play Franz Liszt's Lorelei, a piece Hofmann had supposedly never studied or heard. Hofmann played it as an encore at his concert that evening[5]. The difficulty of a piece apparently did not affect Hofmann's ability to absorb it. Maurice Aronson, who served as pianist Leopold Godowsky's assistant, told of Hofmann "learning" Godowsky's Fledermaus transcription. Godowsky and Hofmann met in Berlin in 1900, becoming life-long friends. Hofmann would visit Godowsky's studio and sit open-mouthed while Godowsky was working out Fledermaus. Hofmann's father finally ran into Godowsky and asked, "What have you done to Josef? He sits home all day and plays Strauss waltzes." A week or so later, Hofmann visited Godowsky and played the entire transcription, note for note. Hofmann had never seen the music; in fact, Godowsky had not yet written it down. Harold C. Schonberg, in his book The Great Pianists, adds "that Godowsky's Fledermaus is one of the most fantastic, resourceful and complicated stunts ever written for the piano[6]." Hofmann made the United States his base during World War I. He became a citizen and was appointed the first head of the piano department at the Curtis Institute of Music when it was created in 1924. He became the institute's director in 1927, a position he kept until 1938[7]. Hofmann's pupils included Jeanne Behrend, Abram Chasins, Shura Cherkassky, William Harms, Harry Kaufman, Nadia Reisenberg, Ruth Slenczynska and several other of the most talented young students of the day. While not a pupil, Jorge Bolet benefited from Hofmann's interest. Hofmann made a few commercial recordings beginning in 1903 through the 1930s. He also made some of the earliest recordings of classical music for Thomas Edison. These have been lost, but some cylinders he made in Russia a few years later have recently been discovered. He made two series of reproducing piano rolls and reaped a huge income from their issue -in 1913 23 pieces for Welte-Mignon, but never trusted rolls as accurate representations of his playing. This distrust also extended to acoustical recordings, in part because Hofmann noted that he never played any piece the same way twice. Recordings of broadcasts of a number of Hofmann's live performances have survived, and all of these recordings have been published on compact discs under the auspices of Gregor Benko and audio restorer Ward Marston. Hofmann's playing began to decline during the 1940s, mostly due to alcoholism. He recorded a Bell Telephone sound film in 1945 and gave his last concert in 1946. A full house, seen from the rear of the stage, at the Metropolitan Opera House for a concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of Josef Hofmann's debut, November 28, 1937He had very small (but exceptionally strong) hands, and like several other famous pianists, found the situation more of a nuisance than a handicap. Steinway eventually built him a custom keyboard with slightly narrower keys. It is said that once, following a concert, a woman asked Hofmann how he could possibly play so well with such small hands, and he reportedly answered: "Madam, what makes you think that I play with my hands?"[8] Sergei Rachmaninoff considered Hofmann his superior as a pianist and dedicated his Piano Concerto No. 3 to him. Hofmann never played it. According to his first wife, he did not care for the piece, which he considered lacking in form (ref. "The Amazing Marriage of Josef Hofmann and Marie Eustis"). Hofmann possessed extraordinary technical skill, poetry, color, and imagination. Volcanic interpretations of pieces like Chopin's Fourth Ballade (performed in the "Historic Casimir Hall Recital" of 1938) show just how much Hofmann's playing had in common with Rubinstein, and how different his interpretations are from those of any modern pianists. Hofmann's invention of pneumatic shock absorbers for cars and planes earned him a fortune in the early twentieth century. His other inventions included medical devices, a furnace that burned crude oil, a device to record dynamics in reproducing piano rolls that he perfected just as the roll companies went bust, and a house that revolved with the sun. He spent his last years working on improvements in piano recording.[citation needed] Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.