Eugene d'Albert
Eugene d'Albert was a German pianist and composer, born in Glasgow on April 10, 1864. His father was the composer Charles d'Albert, who worked in Britain; d'Albert was also a distant descendant of the Italian composer Domenico Alberti. He received his first musical instruction from his father and performed as a pianist while still a child.
From the age of 12, he studied at the National Training School for Music in London, where Arthur Sullivan was among his teachers; d'Albert also helped Sullivan with arrangements. In 1880, at Hans Richter's invitation, he went to Vienna to perform his first piano concerto. He later studied for more than a year with Franz Liszt, completing his musical education.
In 1882, d'Albert began touring Germany, Austria, and the Russian Empire, and the Grand Duke of Weimar appointed him court pianist that year. He continued to tour regularly in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands, and spent the summer months in Eisenach. He taught, including at the Berlin Hochschule for Music; his students included Wilhelm Backhaus and Alfred Hoehn. He later moved to Switzerland and became a Swiss citizen. From 1892 to 1895, he was married to the pianist Teresa Carreño.
A celebrated piano virtuoso whose playing Liszt admired, d'Albert composed 19 operas as well as orchestral, chamber, and piano music. He was a leading representative of verismo in Germany. His operas include Ghismonda (1895), Cain (1900), The Valley (1903), Dead Eyes (1916), The Golem (1926), and The Black Orchid (1928). His other works include a symphony (1886), two piano concertos (1881 and 1893), a cello concerto (1899), two string quartets, and piano pieces. He died in Riga on March 3, 1932.