The Leopold Auer Class in St Petersburg, Russia

 The Leopold Auer Class in St Petersburg, Russia (up to 1917)

Auer encouraged his pupils to make the violin ‘sing’

 

 

How Heifetz ended up in the class and the Jewish problem with St Petersberg

 

Heifetz spent over 6 years in the Auer class

Arrived: 1911

Departed: 1917

Who was Leopold Auer?

The fact that the Tchaikovsky concerto was originally dedicated to him shows the high regard in which he was held by preeminent composers of his day, the Concerto originally scared him resulting in it ultimately being premiered by Brodsky however Auer did eventually return to it making alterations later adhered to strictly by Heifetz throughout his career.

 

“Auer did very little work on technique, but since Heifetz could already play virtually anything at sight this was never a problem. Musically speaking, Auer was a facilitator who built upon each individual’s unique personality and expressive instincts.” - STRAD

 

Heifetz’ later reflection on Auer, contrasted with Milstein’s view

 

Heifetz said of him: ‘Auer was a wonderful and incomparable teacher. I do not believe that there is any teacher in the world who could possibly approach him. Don’t ask me how he did it, for I would not know how to tell you, for he is completely different with each student.’ - STRAD

Heifetz kept a walking stick given to him by Auer for the rest of his life

Isolde Menges story of Heifetz with the ball

 see my videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY1WLSER-D4

and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImwtkKQSRcU&t=4s

Some Comments on the Other pupils of the Auer Class

 

·       Isolde Menges (my teacher’s teacher)

·       Toscha Seidel – played in Hollywood

·       Sasha Lasserson – violin teacher who settled in London

In the words of Isolde Menges the entire Auer class knew Heifetz was special

 

Other notable students in the Auer class

 

I am still working on this list– note some may have been America only after Auer emigrated, hence not in the St. Petersburg class with Heifetz

·       Eddy Brown

·       Mischa Elman

·       Nathan Milstein

·       Toscha Seidel

 

·       Isolde Menges (possibly encountered Heifetz at summer camp in Germany but definitely was in the class with him)

·       Max Rosen

·       Thelma Given

·       F. Steinway (Vered, p44)

·       Kathleen Parlow (Vered, p44)

·       Efrem Zimbalist

·       Sasha Lasserson (?)

·       Cecilia Hansen

·       Konstanty Gorski

·       Georges Boulanger

·       Lyubov Streicher

·       Benno Rabinof (America only?)

·       Julia Klumpke

·       Sylvia Lent

·       Kemp Stillings

·       Oscar Shumsky

·       Margarita Mandelstamm

·       Miron Poliakin

·       Ruth Ray (America only?)

·       Mischel Piastro (America only?)

·       Francis MacMillan (America only?)

 

some of the greatest violinists!

(complete the list)

And before the Heifetz era:

·       Malkin (Heifetz’ teacher)