Harold Bauer

Harold Victor Bauer, born in New Malden, a suburb of London, was a renowned pianist whose musical journey began unexpectedly as a violinist. Born into a musical family, Bauer's prodigious talent emerged early, composing a polka at the age of four. His career spanned continents, introducing American audiences to the works of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, and making him one of the most popular artists at the Schubert Club between the two world wars. Bauer's legacy endures not just through his performances, including notable recordings on the Chickering Double Keyboard Piano, but also as the dedicatee of Ravel's "Ondine" from "Gaspard de la nuit." His influence extends to modern pianists and pedagogues, cementing his place as a pivotal figure in classical piano.