Hofmann, Josef

1877-

Josef Hofmann was born at Cracow in 1877. His father, a professor at the Conservatory and director of opera at Warsaw, was his teacher until 1892. Hofmann's mother was a distinguished singer. When not quite six years old Hofmann appeared as pianist, and when eight played the Beethoven Concerto in C minor before Rubinstein, who declared there had never before been such a child musician. From 1892 to 1894 he was a pupil of Rubinstein's. In 1886 he gave a recital in Berlin before critics, who pronounced his success assured. He then toured Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden and played also in Paris, Vienna and London. In 1887 he went to America, giving fiftytwo concerts in two and a half months and so impairing his health that he was obliged to rest for a number of years, when he again appeared, no longer as a prodigy but as a matured pianist. He returned to America in 1898 and made a most successful tour. His piano-playing is often compared with that of Rubinstein. Hofmann has composed a number of piano pieces.