Sigismond Thalberg. Unknown pages of the biography
Abstract
The article is dedicated to the outstanding Austrian pianist and composer of the 19th century Sigismond Thalberg. The goal is to clarify a number of aspects of his life and creative path. Using the source study approach, the author analyzes scientific and memoir works, a number of which are introduced into circulation in Russian musicology for the first time. In the course of the study, some established provisions in musicology, including Russian, about the early period of Thalberg’s life and creative path are refuted. The author joins the point of view that the musician’s father was Prince Franz Joseph von Dietrichstein, adding this new evidence, found independently, to the already known. At the same time, it is argued that the widespread opinion that his mother was Countess Maria Bydescuty von Ipp cannot be considered fully proven; perhaps she was Baroness Suzanne Wetzlar. The main attention is paid to the personality of Thalberg’s teacher. The assertion that this was J. N. Hummel, which appears in the main works about Thalberg, is convincingly disputed. It is concluded that his main teacher was K. Czerny.
About the Author
I. S. KuligovskiiRussian Federation
Ivan S. Kuligovskii, Lecturer at the Department of Piano
Vladivostok, 690091
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Review
For citations:
Kuligovskii I.S. Sigismond Thalberg. Unknown pages of the biography. ARTE. 2025;(2):63-72. (In Russ.)