Vladimir de Pachmann

Vladimir de Pachmann was a Russian pianist of German origin born on July 27, 1848, in Odessa. He received his first lessons from his father before studying at the Vienna Conservatory under Joseph Dachs and Anton Bruckner. He debuted in Odessa in 1869 but retired twice for further study before establishing an international career. De Pachmann performed throughout Europe and America, where he was identified with the works of Chopin. He was known for his eccentric stage behavior, which included speaking to the audience. His repertoire featured composers such as Liszt, Mendelssohn, and Schumann. In 1916, he received the Gold Medal of the Royal Philharmonic Society. De Pachmann recorded his first works in 1907. He died on January 6, 1933, in Rome. Posthumous collections of his work included The Essential Pachmann: 1907-1927 Early and Unissued Recordings (2006).