ALEKSANDER MICHALOWSKI (1851-1938)
Polish pianist

Aleksander Michalowski was a great pianist and teacher.  He studied with Ignaz Moscheles, Carl Reinecke, and Carl Tausig, and subsequently befriended Karol Mikuli, an important pupil of Chopin.  From Mikuli, he learned a great deal about how Chopin wished his own works to be performed.  He went on to become a major exponent of the works of Chopin.  It is said that Liszt himself was particularly impressed by his playing.

Although he made numerous recordings in 1905, 1912 and in the 1930s, I can offer only a choice handful at this time.  But I will continue to look for other examples of his playing to add to this page.

As a teacher, his historical importance cannot be underestimated.  He stressed the importance of playing the music of Bach and believed a study of the Baroque master was critical to the proper understanding and performance of Chopin.   Wanda Landowska, Mischa Levitzki, Vladimir Sofronitsky, and Heinrich Neuhaus were among his best known students.  Neuhaus, in turn, went on to teach Sviatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels, Yakov Zak, Lev Naumov, Eliso Virsaladze, Radu Lupu, Vladimir Krainev, Lev Naumov, and a host of others representing a veritable who's who of the great 20th century Soviet era pianists.

Mendelssohn  Song without words in A major, Op 19 ~3

recorded in 1905