Hubert de Blanck
Encyclopedia
Hubertus Christiaan de Blanck (June 14 , 1856November 28, 1932) was a Dutch-born
professor
, pianist
, and composer
who spent the better part of his life in Cuba
.
Born in Utrecht
, Holland, De Blanck was the son of violinist Willem de Blan(c)k and singer Reine Valet. Hubert studied music with his father until February 1865, when he was admitted to the Royal Conservatory of Liège, Belgium
. There he studied piano with Felix Étienne Ledent and solfège with Sylvain Dupuis
. In 1869, aged 13, he won the institution's 2nd Annual Piano Competition by unanimous decision, the winning piece being Hummel
's Concerto in B minor for piano and orchestra. His sister Ana had won the violin competition at the conservatory in 1867. In November of that year, he decided to leave the conservatory, and moved to Brussels
. After playing a concert at Brussels
' Royal Palace, King Leopold II
awarded him a scholarship to study at whichever conservatory he chose. Hubert's father chose Cologne
. The family moved there in 1871.
At the Conservatory of Cologne, De Blanck studied piano with Ferdinand Hiller
for two years, also learning harmony and composition. He then moved to St. Petersburg in 1873, where he made his formal debut as a concert pianist at age seventeen. That same year, he concertized throughout Russia
, Switzerland
, and Germany
. In 1874 he was named musical director of the 'Eldorado' theater of Versovia, but he left the post the following year.
He later returned to his parents in Cologne
, where he met the precocious Brazilian violinist, Eugene Maurice Dengremont (1866–1893). The two soon embarked on several concert
tours in Europe
, including successful tours of Germany and Denmark
. In January 1880 the pair played in Dresden
, with German chancellor Wilhelm I in attendance. After the performance it was reported in the Saxonian Journal that the Chancellor gave De Blanck a gold encrusted ruby, a testament to his admiration of the pianist. A music critic from Copenhagen
commented that the pianist "received fervent and abundant applause, the likes of which our reserved public is not accustomed to giving".
De Blanck and Dengremont soon made their way to the Americas, landing in Rio de Janeiro
in April 1880, where they were received at the court of Emperor Pedro II of Brazil
. From there the duo gave ten concerts in Buenos Aires
, beginning with a concert at the Politeama on October 3 of that year. They performed a number of times at the Teatro Colón, and on November 16, they took part in a large benefit concert, the proceeds of which funded the creation of a commemorative monument celebrating centenary of the introduction of 'imprenta' in Buenos Aires
. The Argentinian government awarded De Blanck a medal for his participation in the concert.
In February 1881, the pianist gave a solo performance in [Buenos Aires, after which he travelled to the United States for a series of concerts. Upon arriving in New York
, he performed Weber
's Konzertstück
, Op. 79, with the New York Philharmonic
, under the direction of Theodore Thomas. He was later awarded the position of Professor of Piano at the New York College of Music, which had previously been held by the professor Rafael Joseffy
. In the weeks that followed he met the young Ana María García Menocal (1855–1900), cousin of the future president of Cuba
, Mario García Menocal
. They were married in New York in November 1881. From this union were born six Cuban children: five sons, Guillermo (Willy), Huberto, Armando, Florencio, Narciso, and a daughter, Rosario.
Taking advantage of the Christmas
vacation afforded him by the College, De Blanck visited Havana
for the first time in December 1882 along with his wife. There he gave a performance of Anton Rubinstein
's Piano Trio, Op. 52, along with Anselmo Lopez and Serafin Ramirez. Cuba's most famous artists, among them Ignacio Cervantes
, Pablo Desvernine, and Nicolas Ruiz Espadero, applauded the visiting pianist. Upon his return to New York, De Blanck continued to teach and perform in numerous concerts.
February 1883 found De Blanck on the cover of New York's 'Musical Courier', a famous magazine of the time. That same year, he moved to Havana and began a new life with his wife and children. He immediately began forging relationships with important members of the Cuban arts community, and was soon named president of the Seccion de Philharmonic de 'La Caridad del Cerro'. In March 1884, he organized and conducted, with assistance from the Governor General, a fundraising festival in the 'Tacon' theater to raise money for the construction of the 'Reina Mercedes' hospital. The event was an extraordinary success. The following November De Blanck created the 'Sociedad de Musica Classica' in conjunction with violinists Jose and Feliz Vandergucht, the cellist Charles Werner, and the violist Tomas de la Rosa. The group was formed with the intentions of playing mainly chamber music. In 1886, the 'Sociedad de Music Classica' became known as the 'Sociedad de Cuartetos Classicos', which functioned until 1889, its members being Tomas de la Rosa, Anselmo Lopez, Angel Tempesti, and De Blanck. De Blanck revived the 'Sociedad' in 1909, with Juan Torroella, Arturo Quiñones, Constante Chané, and Antonio Mompo. Toroella went on to run the 'Sociedad' for the next few decades.
Fully esconced in Cuba's musical community and atmosphere, De Blanck began contemplating Havana's lack of a dedicated conservatory of music. One day in August 1885, he met with various Cuban professors at the home of Anselmo Lopez and suggested the idea that together they could work on creating a Cuban conservatory of music. The group convened a number of times but the project stalled. De Blanck then decided to go it alone. He named Gabriel Morales Valverde ('Edgardo') conservatory secretary and designated Anselmo Lopez, Ernesto Edelmann, Jose Mungol, Tomas Ruiz, Juan Miguel Joval, and Mariano Cuero its first teachers. Rafael Montoro and Anselmo Lopez were especially instrumental in the project. Soon after, Ramón Suaréz Inclán was named Honorary President for his works as a philanthropist and his dedication to music and the arts.
The new conservatory received funding from 'La Caridad Del Cerro', 'La Disputacion Provincial', the 'Real Sociedad Económica', the National Government, the 'Ayuntamiento de La Habana', and opened that September 1885. Originally named the Hubert de Blanck Conservatory, it was later renamed the National Conservatory of Music.
After the death of his first wife in 1900, De Blanck married one of his students, Pilar Martín (1883–1955) in 1902. The couple got three children: Margot, Ernesto and Olga.
Hubert de Blanck died in 1932 at age 76 and was interred in the Colon Cemetery, Havana
. Widely acclaimed in Cuba during his lifetime for his significant contribution to the country's culture, he has since been honored with his image on a Cuban postage stamp. As well, a theatrical company carries his name as does the theatre in the Vedado
district of Havana which opened in 1955.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
who spent the better part of his life in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
Born in Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
, Holland, De Blanck was the son of violinist Willem de Blan(c)k and singer Reine Valet. Hubert studied music with his father until February 1865, when he was admitted to the Royal Conservatory of Liège, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. There he studied piano with Felix Étienne Ledent and solfège with Sylvain Dupuis
Sylvain Dupuis
Sylvain Dupuis was a Belgian conductor, composer, oboist, and music educator.-Life:Born in Liège, Dupuis was trained at the Royal Conservatory of Liège. After graduating in 1878, he was appointed to that school's faculty as a professor of harmony. In 1911 he succeeded Jean-Théodore Radoux as the...
. In 1869, aged 13, he won the institution's 2nd Annual Piano Competition by unanimous decision, the winning piece being Hummel
Johann Nepomuk Hummel
Johann Nepomuk Hummel or Jan Nepomuk Hummel was an Austrian composer and virtuoso pianist. His music reflects the transition from the Classical to the Romantic musical era.- Life :...
's Concerto in B minor for piano and orchestra. His sister Ana had won the violin competition at the conservatory in 1867. In November of that year, he decided to leave the conservatory, and moved to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. After playing a concert at Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
' Royal Palace, King Leopold II
Leopold II of Belgium
Leopold II was the second king of the Belgians. Born in Brussels the second son of Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the throne on 17 December 1865 and remained king until his death.Leopold is chiefly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free...
awarded him a scholarship to study at whichever conservatory he chose. Hubert's father chose Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
. The family moved there in 1871.
At the Conservatory of Cologne, De Blanck studied piano with Ferdinand Hiller
Ferdinand Hiller
Ferdinand Hiller was a German composer, conductor, writer and music-director.-Biography:Ferdinand Hiller was born to a wealthy Jewish family in Frankfurt am Main, where his father Justus was a merchant in English textiles – a business eventually continued by Ferdinand’s brother Joseph...
for two years, also learning harmony and composition. He then moved to St. Petersburg in 1873, where he made his formal debut as a concert pianist at age seventeen. That same year, he concertized throughout Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In 1874 he was named musical director of the 'Eldorado' theater of Versovia, but he left the post the following year.
He later returned to his parents in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, where he met the precocious Brazilian violinist, Eugene Maurice Dengremont (1866–1893). The two soon embarked on several concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
tours in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, including successful tours of Germany and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. In January 1880 the pair played in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, with German chancellor Wilhelm I in attendance. After the performance it was reported in the Saxonian Journal that the Chancellor gave De Blanck a gold encrusted ruby, a testament to his admiration of the pianist. A music critic from Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
commented that the pianist "received fervent and abundant applause, the likes of which our reserved public is not accustomed to giving".
De Blanck and Dengremont soon made their way to the Americas, landing in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
in April 1880, where they were received at the court of Emperor Pedro II of Brazil
Pedro II of Brazil
Dom Pedro II , nicknamed "the Magnanimous", was the second and last ruler of the Empire of Brazil, reigning for over 58 years. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was the seventh child of Emperor Dom Pedro I of Brazil and Empress Dona Maria Leopoldina and thus a member of the Brazilian branch of...
. From there the duo gave ten concerts in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, beginning with a concert at the Politeama on October 3 of that year. They performed a number of times at the Teatro Colón, and on November 16, they took part in a large benefit concert, the proceeds of which funded the creation of a commemorative monument celebrating centenary of the introduction of 'imprenta' in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. The Argentinian government awarded De Blanck a medal for his participation in the concert.
In February 1881, the pianist gave a solo performance in [Buenos Aires, after which he travelled to the United States for a series of concerts. Upon arriving in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, he performed Weber
Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was a German composer, conductor, pianist, guitarist and critic, one of the first significant composers of the Romantic school....
's Konzertstück
Konzertstück for Piano and Orchestra in F minor (Weber)
The Konzertstück in F minor for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 79, J. 282, was written by Carl Maria von Weber. He started work on it in 1815, and completed it on the morning of the premiere of his opera Der Freischütz, 18 June 1821...
, Op. 79, with the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
, under the direction of Theodore Thomas. He was later awarded the position of Professor of Piano at the New York College of Music, which had previously been held by the professor Rafael Joseffy
Rafael Joseffy
Rafael Joseffy was a Hungarian pianist and composer.-Life:Raael Joseffy was born in Hunfalu in 1852. His youth was spent in Miskolcz , and there, at the age of 8, he began his study of the piano. He studied in Budapest with Friedrich Brauer, the teacher of Stephen Heller...
. In the weeks that followed he met the young Ana María García Menocal (1855–1900), cousin of the future president of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, Mario García Menocal
Mario García Menocal
Aurelio Mario García Menocal y Deop was President of Cuba, from 1913 to 1921...
. They were married in New York in November 1881. From this union were born six Cuban children: five sons, Guillermo (Willy), Huberto, Armando, Florencio, Narciso, and a daughter, Rosario.
Taking advantage of the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
vacation afforded him by the College, De Blanck visited Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
for the first time in December 1882 along with his wife. There he gave a performance of Anton Rubinstein
Anton Rubinstein
Anton Grigorevich Rubinstein was a Russian-Jewish pianist, composer and conductor. As a pianist he was regarded as a rival of Franz Liszt, and he ranks amongst the great keyboard virtuosos...
's Piano Trio, Op. 52, along with Anselmo Lopez and Serafin Ramirez. Cuba's most famous artists, among them Ignacio Cervantes
Ignacio Cervantes
Ignacio Cervantes Kawanagh was a Cuban virtuoso pianist and composer. He was influential in the creolization of Cuban music....
, Pablo Desvernine, and Nicolas Ruiz Espadero, applauded the visiting pianist. Upon his return to New York, De Blanck continued to teach and perform in numerous concerts.
February 1883 found De Blanck on the cover of New York's 'Musical Courier', a famous magazine of the time. That same year, he moved to Havana and began a new life with his wife and children. He immediately began forging relationships with important members of the Cuban arts community, and was soon named president of the Seccion de Philharmonic de 'La Caridad del Cerro'. In March 1884, he organized and conducted, with assistance from the Governor General, a fundraising festival in the 'Tacon' theater to raise money for the construction of the 'Reina Mercedes' hospital. The event was an extraordinary success. The following November De Blanck created the 'Sociedad de Musica Classica' in conjunction with violinists Jose and Feliz Vandergucht, the cellist Charles Werner, and the violist Tomas de la Rosa. The group was formed with the intentions of playing mainly chamber music. In 1886, the 'Sociedad de Music Classica' became known as the 'Sociedad de Cuartetos Classicos', which functioned until 1889, its members being Tomas de la Rosa, Anselmo Lopez, Angel Tempesti, and De Blanck. De Blanck revived the 'Sociedad' in 1909, with Juan Torroella, Arturo Quiñones, Constante Chané, and Antonio Mompo. Toroella went on to run the 'Sociedad' for the next few decades.
Fully esconced in Cuba's musical community and atmosphere, De Blanck began contemplating Havana's lack of a dedicated conservatory of music. One day in August 1885, he met with various Cuban professors at the home of Anselmo Lopez and suggested the idea that together they could work on creating a Cuban conservatory of music. The group convened a number of times but the project stalled. De Blanck then decided to go it alone. He named Gabriel Morales Valverde ('Edgardo') conservatory secretary and designated Anselmo Lopez, Ernesto Edelmann, Jose Mungol, Tomas Ruiz, Juan Miguel Joval, and Mariano Cuero its first teachers. Rafael Montoro and Anselmo Lopez were especially instrumental in the project. Soon after, Ramón Suaréz Inclán was named Honorary President for his works as a philanthropist and his dedication to music and the arts.
The new conservatory received funding from 'La Caridad Del Cerro', 'La Disputacion Provincial', the 'Real Sociedad Económica', the National Government, the 'Ayuntamiento de La Habana', and opened that September 1885. Originally named the Hubert de Blanck Conservatory, it was later renamed the National Conservatory of Music.
After the death of his first wife in 1900, De Blanck married one of his students, Pilar Martín (1883–1955) in 1902. The couple got three children: Margot, Ernesto and Olga.
Hubert de Blanck died in 1932 at age 76 and was interred in the Colon Cemetery, Havana
Colon Cemetery, Havana
The Colon Cemetery or more fully in the Spanish language Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón was founded in 1876 in the Vedado neighbourhood of Havana, Cuba on top of Espada Cemetery. Named for Christopher Columbus, the 140 acre cemetery is noted for its many elaborately sculpted memorials...
. Widely acclaimed in Cuba during his lifetime for his significant contribution to the country's culture, he has since been honored with his image on a Cuban postage stamp. As well, a theatrical company carries his name as does the theatre in the Vedado
Vedado
Vedado is the downtown and a vibrant neighboorhood in the city of Havana, Cuba. Bordered on the east by Central Havana, and on the west by the Miramar/Playa district. The main street running east to west is Calle 23, also known as 'La Rampa'...
district of Havana which opened in 1955.