Rafael Joseffy

Biography

Rafael Joseffy was a virtuoso pianist celebrated for his extraordinarily delicate pianissimo passages, played upon the same instruments on which Liszt and Rubinstein had 'thundered,' yet made under his touch to 'sing like music from heavenly spheres.' His demands for elasticity of touch and pure tone quality were considered a difficult standard for piano builders to satisfy, and a great many builders proudly pointed to his endorsement as validation of their instruments. Over the course of his career Joseffy played and expressed admiration for the Bösendorfer, Blüthner, Erard, and Chickering pianos, praising each because he felt it merited such praise, before eventually adopting the Steinway as his instrument of choice.

Highlights

• Celebrated for extraordinarily delicate pianissimo passages played on the same pianos on which Liszt and Rubinstein had 'thundered.'
• His demand for elasticity of touch and pure tone quality was considered a master's task for builders, and many piano builders proudly cited his endorsement.
• Played and admired the Bösendorfer, Blüthner, Erard and Chickering pianos before adopting the Steinway.

Source

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911), pp. 391, 392, 398.

Public domain.