Auer, Leopold (EN)

Auer Leopold, *7 June 1845 Veszprém (western Hungary), †15 July 1930 Loschwitz (near Dresden), Hungarian violinist and teacher. In 1883, he obtained Russian citizenship, in 1896 a title of nobility, and in 1926 American citizenship. He began systematic violin lessons in 1855 at the conservatory in Budapest with D. Ridley-Kohn, continuing in 1857–58 at the conservatory in Vienna with J. Dont and J. Hellmesberger, and in 1861 with J.D. Alard in Paris. In 1863–64, he studied with J. Joachim in Hanover, honing his skills in solo, chamber, and orchestral playing. In 1864–66, he was concertmaster of the orchestra in Düsseldorf, then in Hamburg, where he conducted a string quartet, and later, until 1868, he played first violin in the Müller brothers’ quartet. In May 1868, he gave concerts with Anton Rubinstein in London, and in September 1868 he left for Russia on a three-year contract, remaining there until 1917. From 1868 to 1917, he taught violin and chamber music at the conservatory in St. Petersburg, from 1868 to 1906 he was a soloist and director of the Russian Music Society quartet, and from 1872 to 1908 he was a soloist in the Mariinsky Theatre orchestra (he took over all these functions from H. Wieniawski); from 1874 he also held the position of court soloist to the tsar, and in 1883 he began conducting, leading symphony concerts for the Russian Musical Society in the 1883/84, 1887–92, and 1894/95 seasons. Until 1917, he pursued highly active social and organizational work, and above all an intensive concert career. He performed as a soloist and conductor in Russia and throughout Europe (many times in Poland). He participated as Russia’s official representative in many international congresses and competitions. In 1918, he left for the USA, where he continued his teaching activities at the Institute of Musical Art in New York and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Despite his advanced age, he did not stop performing and appeared at Carnegie Hall in 1924 and later. Recognized as the founder of the Russian violin school, he had equally great achievements in the field of performance and teaching. Auer’s students included J. Achron, J. Heifetz, E. Zimbalist, M. Elman, N. Milstein, C. Hansen, M. Polakin, and, among Poles, E. Młynarski. Many foreign students studied with Auer in London between 1906 and 1911. Auer is the author of numerous transcriptions and arrangements of violin literature, and he also composed works for violin and orchestra, such as Rhapsodie hongroise and Tarantelle de concert. He owed his success as a performer and teacher to his innovative technique, profound knowledge of performance styles, and extensive and comprehensive musical culture. During his conducting performances abroad, he promoted Russian symphonic music and conducted several foreign premieres of Tchaikovsky’s works. As a violinist, he performed with many world-renowned artists, such as E. d’Albert, R. Pugno, J. Hofmann, T. Leschetizky, J. Wieniawski, and S. Taneyev, and regularly performed with Anton Rubinstein and A. Yesipova.

Literature: My Long Life in Music, New York 1923, Russian trans. Sriedi muzykantów, Moscow 1927; O stylu i tradycji (interview with Auer), “Muzyka” 1930 no. 10; L.N. Raaben L.S. Auer. Oczerk żyzni i diejatielnosti, Leningrad 1962.