Publication details
Gideon Klein als Pianist
| Title in English | Gideon Klein as Pianist |
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| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2020 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
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| Citation | |
| Description | Gideon Klein (1919-1945) devoted his short life to the piano. He is known today chiefly for compositions he wrote while a prisoner in Theresienstadt and was one of the more successful graduates of the Prague Conservatory. He studied with Vilém Kurz, whose students included Rudolf Firkušný, František Maxián, Rafael Schächter, Eduard Steuerman, Stefania Turkewitsch etc. Today we can only guess how Klein’s life would have developed—whether he would have worked as a concert soloist, chamber pianist, or piano pedagogue. The 1939 occupation of Bohemia and Moravia disrupted his budding career. In December 1941, he was sent to Theresienstadt, where he took part in the “Freizeitgestaltung” activities. There he performed as a soloist, as well as in a trio with Pavel Kling and Friedrich Marek and in a piano quartet with Karel Fröhlich, Romuald Süssmann, and Friedrich Marek. In the post-war era in the context of Czech musical culture, Klein was thought of mainly as a composer, whose promising career was cut short. In the context of Czech piano schools, he is mentioned only marginally. In this regard, his sister Eliška Kleinová (née Elisabeth Klein), who also arranged for the publication of his brother’s works, has been held in high regard. |
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