Vladimir de Pachmann

Vladimir de Pachmann or Pachman (27 July 18486 January 1933) was a Russian pianist of German descent. He is known for performing the works of Chopin and for his eccentric performing style.

Biography He was born Vladimir Pachmann in Odessa, Russian Empire; the nobiliary particle (von or de) in his name was probably his own idea. Three of his brothers serving as officers in the Imperial Russian Army did not use the particle.

His father was a professor at the University of Odessa and a celebrated amateur violinist who had met Beethoven, Weber and other notable composers in Vienna. He was his son's only teacher until he turned 18,

Pachmann was one of the earliest performers to make recordings, beginning in 1906 with mechanical recordings for the Welte-Mignon reproducing piano and in 1907 for the gramophone.

He became famous for gesturing, muttering and addressing the audience during his performances; the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition characterized it as the "playfulness of his platform manner". Critic James Huneker called him the "Chopinzee", and George Bernard Shaw reported that he "gave his well-known pantomimic performance, with accompaniments by Chopin".

In April 1884 Pachmann married the Australian-born British pianist Maggie Okey (Annie Louisa Margaret Okey, 1865–1952), who was later known as Marguerite de Pachmann. They did concert tours of Europe together and had three sons – Victor (who died in infancy), Adriano, and Leonide (called Lionel). The marriage ended after seven years.

Vladimir de Pachmann died in Rome in 1933, aged 84.