10 Facts About Ignaz Friedman

Ignaz Friedman studied with Hugo Riemann in Leipzig and Theodor Leschetizky in Vienna, and participated in Ferruccio Busoni's master classes.

Ignaz Friedman's style was quiet and effortless, imbued with a sense of rhythm and color, grounded in a sovereign technique, and much has been written about his peerless interpretations of Chopin in particular.

Rachmaninoff admired Ignaz Friedman's playing very much and considered him as a great virtuoso in a style more romantic than his own.

Ignaz Friedman was never successful in an America that had adopted a much more modern and straightforward presentation with recording technology that prompted a different sensibility.

Therefore, Ignaz Friedman remains as one of the last representatives of the bygone era even during the life of Rachmaninov.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Ignaz Friedman was in Europe, but managed to escape when a concert tour in Australia was offered at the last moment.

Ignaz Friedman settled in Sydney and remained there until his death.

Ignaz Friedman composed more than 90 works, mainly piano miniatures, as well as pieces for cello and a piano quintet, but his compositions have not found a niche in the standard repertory.

Ignaz Friedman edited an almost complete edition of the piano works of Chopin and produced editions of Schumann and Liszt.

Ignaz Friedman taught several important pianists, including Joseph Gurt, Karol Klein, Anna Schytte, Ignace Tiegerman and Bruce Hungerford.