Ignace Jan Paderewski

Ignace Jan Paderewski (1860-), Polish pianist and composer, was born in Podolia, a province of Russian Poland. He studied music chiefly at Warsaw, Berlin and Vienna, where he was a pupil of Theodor Leschetizky (b. 1830), the pianist and composer. He made his first public appearance in Vienna in 1887, in Paris in 1889, and in London in 1890, his brilliant playing created a furore which went to almost extravagant lengths of admiration; and his triumphs were repeated in America in 1891. His name at once became synonymous with the highest pitch of pianoforte playing, and society was at his feet. In 1899 he married Baroness de Rosen, and after 1900 he appeared but little in public; but he became better known as a composer, chiefly of pieces for his own instrument. In 1901 his opera NI anru was performed at Dresden.