Richard Robert

Richard Robert (25 March 1861 – 1 February 1924 in Kaltenleutgeben ) was an Austrian pianist, composer, music critic, and music administrator, but he is most notable as a pedagogue in piano, composition and conducting. As a Viennese piano teacher, Richard Robert was discussed in the same breath as Emil von Sauer and Theodor Leschetizky. (He apparently returned to his birth name in 1920.) He was of Jewish descent. He studied music at the Vienna Conservatory, then worked as a theatre conductor (Kapellmeister) and pianist.

From 1885 to 1891 he edited the journal Neue Musikalische Rundschau. It was through Robert that Gál found his ideal mentor Eusebius Mandyczewski. Szell's first wife Olga Band was a fellow student of Robert's. They married in 1920 but divorced in 1926. Szell wrote a testimonial for Richard Robert's 60th birthday, stressing his kindness, integrity, modesty and readiness to help, aside from his musical skills.

Rudolf Serkin started his studies with Richard Robert in 1912, when he was aged 9. This came about when he auditioned in Pilsen for Alfred Grünfeld, who was so impressed that he recommended Serkin study with Robert in Vienna. Serkin made his debut with the Vienna Symphony at age 12, playing Mendelssohn's G minor Concerto, but his family refused invitations for him to tour, in favour of continuing his studies with Robert. He had at least one more lesson with Robert long after he had become an established concert pianist.

The conductor Kurt Adler was initially a piano student of Robert's, and he dedicated his book The Art of Accompanying and Coaching to all the great musical influences of his life, including Professor Richard Robert.

His assistants included Anka Bernstein-Landau and his former student Vally Weigl.

Richard Robert also composed himself. His works include lieder, chamber music, and the opera Rhampsinit. He became president of the Wiener Tonkünstler-Verein (Vienna Composers' Association). Richard Robert died in Kaltenleutgeben in 1924, aged 62.

During the Nazi regime, Rudolf Serkin helped many people escape deportation by the Nazis; these included Robert's widow Laura Robert, but she died in Vienna before she could be brought to safety in the United States.

List of students