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Henrietta Schumann (1910-1949) Henrietta Schumann was an internationally acclaimed concert pianist that performed in the concert halls of Europe and America from 1927 to 1949. The Russian born Schumann, while still a child, played for Ferruccio Busoni who declared that "she would be one of the greatest piano virtuosi of the future," and his judgement held true. Miss Schumann's phenomenal genius was acknowledged early in her career by critics and audiences alike, as well as fellow-artists of the time, such as Josef Hofman, Mischa Levitzi and others.

It is said that genius flowers in adversity, and this was true of Miss Schumann as she had a perfect background for her artistry. Her childhood in Russia was filled with difficult circumstances and privations few persons encounter in an entire lifetime. During the 1917 Russian Revolution, her hometown of Schaulen was burned, forcing the Schumann family to flee to Berdyansk, Ukrainia, and it was there that her father, Professor Isaac Schumann, gave her first instruction at the piano. After a single lesson of fundamental instructions, he left her to practice with a book of simple pieces. Upon his return, this eight and a half year old child of Professor Schumann not only played the two pieces he asked for, she played 23 others!

Through a childhood that knew from experience the tragedies of revolution and its dire results, the lttle girl grew in musical power. In spite of disasters, there were always concerts. At one of these, a contest in the village square, Henrietta played for the prize, as she had never played before. Her beloved family needed the prize, and the child realized the necessity. She won. The prize was a basket of groceries!

At the age of nine, her concert career began when she played "Konkobeztsy" by Goddard, "Idyll" by Medtner, and a Liszt "Tarantella," at a concert in the Municipal Center.

Another time, when bandits rode into the town and herded the frightened people in the village square, Henrietta, just 12 years old, called to them, "Brothers, come into my house and I shall play for you!" Reluctantly they came in. At the end of the hour, changed with what they had just seen and heard, they left the town unharmed.

On her 15th birthday Miss Schumann arrived with her father at Ellis Island, unable to speak a word of English. Her first appearance in the United States was with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra in 1927, and drew immediate recognition as a premier pianist, an artist of brilliance, elegance and refreshing capabilities.

References

<Exclusive Management, National Music League, 113 West 57th St, New York, NY>

External links

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