teacher who died abroad last year in his eightieth year. Paderewski had studied with
Leshetizky when he began his career as a virtuoso.
In discussing his celebrated teacher and the latter’s aims and methods Mr. Paderewski
incidentally told facts not generally known about his own career.
‘To all of those who knew and were associated with Leschetizky,’ said the pianist in
beginning his talk, ‘this will be a sad blow. But after all, he had done what is not granted
to every man: finished his work before the end came. His artistic career ended a few
years ago with great things accomplished. Now the mighty tree has fallen. But there are
offshoots not only where it fell but all over the world which will grow up in the image of
the parent tree, so great was the vigor of the parent tree, so great was the vigor drawn
from roots that penetrated far into the soil.
My own contact with Leschetizky began in 1885. Up to that time I had been principally a
composer and had had that career only in mind. But I found after a while that my
compositions were not becoming known, that nobody was playing them. So I resolved to
become a virtuoso in order that I could be an exponent of my own works. I therefore
went to Leschetizky and asked him for a few lessons.
I very well remember my first meeting with him. I went to his house in Vienna and sent
up my card. When I was ushered into his presence I found he knew my name and had
heard of my compositions. He asked me what I was doing in composition and requested
me to play some of my new things which I did immediately. He was quite enthusiastic,
called some of his pupils in, and had me repeat some of the numbers.
When I talked to him about becoming a piano virtuoso, however, his enthusiasm waned.
He told me I could scarcely expect to become a successful public performer because I
was already 25 years old, and that was too late to start. However, he agreed to give me
some lessons, and I took nine or ten, I forget exactly how many. At not time during this
period was he very encouraging to my hopes, and I do not believe he thought I would
make a virtuoso.
After a short time I had to leave. I was not well off and had to earn a living in some way,
so I could not afford to indulge my desire to take piano lessons. Leschetizky at this time
was kind enough to recommend me for the post of professor of pianoforte and
composition at the Conservatory of Strassburg, and I stayed there for a year and a half.
During this time my position compelled me to appear in public as a pianist, and my
experiences confirmed my belief that I could be a virtuoso, so I returned to Leschetizky
and studied with him for several months.
‘After this I had some success in public appearances in Vienna and Paris but I realized I
had not an extensive enough repertoire, so within a year I returned again to Leschetizky
and studied again for a few months. This was in 1887, and was the last time I studied
with him.