Moriz Rosenthal

virtuoso pianist

Biography

Moriz Rosenthal was a virtuoso pianist described as sensitive 'to an extraordinary degree' regarding the qualities of the instruments he played. He insisted on an evenness of scale and a singing quality of tone, combined with powerful sound, in order to exhibit his masterly control of phrasing—a control that made his rendering of Liszt's 'Don Juan' paraphrase so captivating to audiences. Rosenthal is recorded as having been 'enchanted' with at least one further piano, though the name is cut off at the end of this section of text. His exacting standards were cited as an example of how virtuoso demands drove piano makers toward greater refinement.

Highlights

Extraordinarily sensitive to piano quality, insisting on an even scale, singing tone, and powerful sound.
His masterly control of phrasing made his rendering of Liszt's 'Don Juan' paraphrase especially captivating.
Recorded as 'enchanted' with at least one further piano (name cut off in this text).

Source

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911), pp. 392, 398.

Public domain.

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