Emanuel Feuermann made his concert debut in February 1914, performing Joseph Haydn’s Cello Concerto in D major with the Vienna Philharmonic at age eleven. His rapid ascent in the musical world established him as a premier instrumentalist of the early twentieth century, leaving behind a technical legacy that contemporaries evaluated as singular among his generation.
Early Development in Vienna
Born in 1902 in Kolomyia, Galicia, Feuermann grew up in a household of amateur musicians. His father provided early cello and violin instruction. The family relocated to Vienna in 1907 to facilitate the musical growth of his siblings. Feuermann received training from Friedrich Buxbaum, the principal cellist of the Vienna Philharmonic, and Anton Walter at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna before his public emergence under conductor Felix Weingartner.
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In 1917, Feuermann moved to Leipzig to study under Julius Klengel. By 1919, he secured a position at the Gürzenich Conservatory in Cologne and became principal cellist of the Gürzenich Orchestra. His career included an appointment as a professor at the Berlin Musikhochschule in 1929. During these years, he collaborated with chamber music partners including Carl Flesch, Szymon Goldberg, and Paul Hindemith.
Displacement and Final Years
The Nazi regime dismissed Feuermann from his Berlin faculty position in April 1933. Following a period of touring in Japan and the United States, he settled briefly in London and Zürich. After fleeing to British Palestine following the 1938 Anschluss, he eventually moved to the United States. He spent his final years teaching privately and at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia until his death in New York City in 1942 due to surgical complications.
Instruments and Reputation
Feuermann maintained a collection of significant cellos, including a 1741 David Tecchler, a 1735 Domenico Montagnana, and a 1730 De Munck Stradivarius. His interpretive ability drew praise from peers like Jascha Heifetz and Artur Rubinstein, the latter describing him as the greatest cellist of all time. Despite his short life, his recordings remain influential, earning him a Grammy Hall of Fame award in 1998.
Fast facts
- Born: 1902, Kolomyia
- Died: 1942, New York City
- Citizenship: Austria
- Education: University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
- Burial site: Kensico Cemetery
- Grammy Hall of Fame: 1998
Questions readers ask
Why was Feuermann forced to leave his teaching position in Germany?
He was dismissed from the Berlin Conservatory in 1933 by the Nazi regime due to his Jewish heritage.
What instruments did Emanuel Feuermann play?
His collection included a 1741 David Tecchler, a 1735 Domenico Montagnana, and a 1730 De Munck Stradivarius.
Achievements
- Worked as cellist, music educator and musician
