Russian pianist Stanislav Neuhaus carried on the tradition of his father, the pianist and teacher Heinrich Neuhaus (1888–1964). Heinrich taught at the Moscow Conservatory from 1922 to 1964 and was the author of The Art of Piano Playing (1958), considered the most authoritative approach to the subject, which is still available today.
Stanislav Neuhaus
Stanislav Neuhaus (1927–1980) was the son of Heinrich’s first wife, Zinaida, who married the writer Boris Pasternak in 1931 and took Stanislav with her. Despite living with his stepfather, he studied piano with his father, graduating in 1950, continuing postgraduate studies until 1953, and later becoming one of his father’s three assistants, along with Lev Naumov and Yevgeny Malinin.
Stanislav was always in the shadow of his father, considered one of the most celebrated artists of his generation. His father’s pupils included both Emil Gilels and Sviatoslav Richter, and as his father’s assistant, Stanislav would have had teaching responsibilities as well. Outside his work for his father, he had his own teaching studio, beginning in 1957, with students including Vladimir Krainev, Radu Lupu, Brigitte Engerer, and his own son, Stanislav Bunin. In recognition of his artistic achievements, he was designated a People’s Artist of the RSFSR in 1978.
Despite that shadow, Stanislav made his own name and was recognised by Aram Khachaturian, in the paper Soviet Musician, as ‘the best pianist in the Moscow Conservatory’. The International Stanislav Neuhaus Piano Competition, held in Chelyabinsk, Russia, at the Chelyabinsk State Institute of Culture, was named in his honour – the last one was held in 2021.
Few recordings seem to be available, but fortunately, there are many videos of his work.
A Chopin program created for The Golden Era of Russian Pianism, vol. 1, gives us a broad selection of études, ballades, a waltz, and a scherzo. Even from this, we can get a feeling for the emotion and interpretation that he brought to his performances.
STANISLAV NEUHAUS plays Chopin [1980]
Chopin’s Étude Op. 10, no. 3 gives us a better view of his performance style.
Stanislav Neuhaus plays Chopin Etude Op.10-3
A 1973 live recording of Neuhaus playing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 draws us deeply into Russian pianism at its greatest.
Stanislav Neuhaus plays Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto no. 2 – live 1973
A 1954 video shows Neuhaus’ interpretation of Debussy.
Stanislav NEUHAUS plays DEBUSSY Clair de lune
We’ll close with a work for piano 4 hands, Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D major, K. 448, played by Heinrich and Stanislav Neuhaus.
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