Benno Moiseiwitsch
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Benno Moiseiwitsch (February 22, 1890 - April 9, 1963) was a pianist.
Born in Odessa in Ukraine, Moiseiwitsch began his studies at age seven at the Odessa Music Academy. He won the Anton Rubinstein Prize when he was just nine years old. He later took lessons from Theodor Leschetizky in Vienna. He first appeared in London in 1909 and made his American debut in 1919. He settled in England and took British citizenship in 1937. Moiseiwitsch was made a Commander of the British Empire in 1946, for his consistent contributions during the Second World War, performing hundreds of recitals to servicemen and charities.
Moiseiwitsch was particularly known for his interpretations of the late Romantic repertoire, especially the works of Sergei Rachmaninoff (who was an admirer of his playing and referred to Moiseiwitsch as his "spiritual heir"). At the piano, Moiseiwitsch was noted for his elegance, poetry, lyrical phrasing, brilliance, and virtuosity. He worked meticulously and amicably as a chamber musician, for example in Rachmaninov's Elegiac Trio and Cello Sonata in G minor.
He married Daisy Kennedy, an Australian concert violinist, and had one daughter, Tanya Moiseiwitsch.Template:Keyboardist-stub