Vladimir de Pachmann
Vladimir de Pachmann or Pachman (27 July 1848 – 6 January 1933) was a pianist from the Russian Empire of German ethnicity, especially noted for performing the works of Chopin and for his eccentric performing style.
Biography
Pachmann was born in Odesa, Russian Empire as Vladimir Pachmann. The von or later de as a nobiliary particle was most probably added to his name by himself. Three of his brothers serving as officers in the Imperial Russian Army did not use the particle.
His father was a professor at the
In Denmark he was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog.[1]
For 18 years, from 1890-1908, he toured across the United States beginning and ending in New York, while also promoting the Chickering Piano.[3]
Pachmann was one of the earliest performers to make recordings of his work, beginning in 1906 with recordings for the Welte-Mignon reproducing piano and in 1907 for the gramophone.
He was also famous for gestures, muttering and addressing the audience during his performance; the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition characterized it as the "playfulness of his platform manner".[2] Critic James Huneker called him the "Chopinzee", and George Bernard Shaw reported that he "gave his well-known pantomimic performance, with accompaniments by Chopin."
In April 1884 Pachmann married the Australian-born British pianist Maggie Okey (Annie Louisa Margaret Okey, 1865–1952), who was later known as Marguerite de Pachmann. They did concert tours of Europe together and had three sons – Victor, who died in infancy, Adriano and Leonide (called Lionel). The marriage ended after seven years.[citation needed]
Vladimir de Pachmann died in Rome in 1933, aged 84.
References
- ^ a b c d e Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 5th ed., 1954, Vol. VI, p. 479
- ^ a b Chisholm 1911.
- ^ Search of newspapers at Chronicling America
Further reading
- Mark Mitchell, Vladimir de Pachmann: A Piano Virtuoso's Life and Art (Indiana University Press, 2002) ISBN 0-253-34169-8. This book has been withdrawn by Indiana University Press and the remaining copies destroyed because it "does not sufficiently acknowledge the intellectual debt it owes to Mr. [Edward] Blickstein's prior labors" [1].
- Francesco Pallottelli: Vladimiro de Pachmann. Rom: Novissima, 1916
- Edward Blickstein and Gregor Benko, Chopin's Prophet: The life of pianist Vladimir de Pachmann, Scarecrow Press, 2013
External links
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 20 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 433.
- Extensive collection of links to online material relating to Pachmann
- Allan Evans Three essays on Pachmann (1996, 1997)
- Arthur Symons ed Ates Orga Pachmann and the Piano (1903, 2000)
Recordings
- Piano Rolls
- The Welte-Mignon mystery, 4. Dead or alive. Stuttgart: Tacet, 2006.