Emil von Sauer studied with Nikolai Rubinstein at the Moscow Conservatory. His playing had impressed the virtuoso pianist and composer Anton Rubinstein (Nicolai's brother) who suggested that he go to Moscow to study. Von Sauer subsequently became a student of Liszt. He is the most recorded of Liszt's pupils and as such gives us meaningful insight into the great master's performance style. His recordings of Franz Liszt's Concerto 1 in E♭ major and Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 54 are of particular interest.
His prodigious technique was ever placed at the disposal of his stately and poetic inclinations, his beautiful tone and attention to detail. This is apparent in his recordings of the music of
Frédéric Chopin
. He was opposed to the "loud and fast" manner of playing during his lifetime and is reported to have said that Liszt would not recognize his own music as played in the style of the day.
Von Sauer went on to head the piano department at the Vienna Conservatory. The list of his students includes some of the great pianists of the first half of the 20th Century, including Webster Aitken, Stefan Askenase, and Elly Ney.
Although it is as a pianist that he has a claim to immortality, Von Sauer was also a
composer
of some note. Among his works are two concerti for piano and orchestra, two piano sonatas, two suites for piano, numerous concert etudes and other piano pieces, and songs.
He was a highly respected artist in his lifetime. The "von" in his name is the result of his having been made a hereditary kight of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. And he was the first German ever to have been appointed to the French Legion of Honor.
Von Sauer lived well into the 20th Century and as a result left many recordings. Below he plays works by Beethoven, Liszt, Schubert, Schumann, and Johann Strauss.
Beethoven Piano Sonata 8 in C minor, Op 13 "Pathétique" ii Adagio cantabile recorded ca1923
)
Beethoven Sonata 14 in C# minor "Quasi una fantasia" Op 27~2 "Moonlight" i Adagio sostenuto recorded ca1923
)
Beethoven Turkish March recorded ca1928
)
Liszt Piano Concerto 1 in E♭ major Felix Weingartner conducting an unidentified orchestra recorded in 1938
Part I
)
Part II
Part III
Liszt Piano Concerto 2 in A major Felix Weingartner conducting l'Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, Paris
Part I
Part II
Liszt Paganini Etude "La Campanella" recorded ca1930
)
Liszt Paganini Etude "Ricordanza" recorded ca1941
)
Liszt Consolation 3 in D♭ major recorded in 1938
)
Liszt Etude de Concert "Gnomenreigen" recorded in 1928
)
Liszt Liebestraume 3 recorded ca1925
)
Liszt "Mazeppa" Transcendental Etude 4 1925 piano roll
)
Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody 12 recorded in 1923
)
Liszt Valse Oubliée No 1 recorded in 1938
)
Mendelssohn-Liszt On Wings of Song recorded in 1923
)
Mendelssohn Scherzo from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" recorded ca1930
)
Mendelssohn Scherzo in E Minor, Op 16~2 recorded in 1923
)
Schubert Moments Musicaux, Op 94
2 in A♭ major recorded in 1941
)
3 in F minor recorded ca1941
)
Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 54 Willem Mengelberg conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra 1940 radio broadcast
ia Allegro affettuoso
ib Allegro affettuoso
ii Intermezzo: Andantino grazioso - iiia Allegro vivace
iiib Allegro vivace
Schumann Carneval, Op 9 recorded ca1923
Part I
)
Part II
)
Schumann "Traumeswirren" Op 12~7 recorded in 1940
)
J Strauss "The Beautiful Blue Danube" recorded ca1925
)
Strauss-von Sauer "Echo aus Wien" recorded ca1925
)
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