Lost genius : the story of a forgotten musical maverick

The award-winning author of __Wondrous Strange__, the critically acclaimed biography of Glenn Gould, explores the bizarre, untold life of another brilliant and eccentric musician.The composer Arnold Schoenberg called him an “utterly extraordinary” pianist of “incredible originality and conviction,” yet today he is all but forgotten. Born in Budapest in 1903, Ervin Nyiregyházi (nyeer-edge-hah-zee) was a remarkable prodigy: at eight he performed at Buckingham Palace, and when he was thirteen a psychologist published a book about him. In his teens, his idiosyncratic, intensely Romantic playing electrified audiences and astounded critics in Europe and America. But his adult career quickly foundered, and he was reduced to penury. In 1928, he settled in Los Angeles, and eventually he withdrew from public life, preferring to spend his time quietly composing. Psychologically, he remained a child, and found the ordinary demands of daily life onerous — he struggled even to dress himself. He drank heavily, was insatiable sexually (he married ten times), and described himself as “a fortissimo bastard,” yet such was his talent and charisma that he numbered among his friends and champions celebrities such as Jack Dempsey, Theodore Dreiser, Bela Lugosi, and Gloria Swanson. Rediscovered in the 1970s, he enjoyed a brief, sensational, and controversial renaissance before slipping back into obscurity. He died in 1987.__Lost Genius__, the product of ten years’ research, is the first biography of Nyiregyházi, whose story is among the most fascinating — and bizarre — in twentieth-century music. The Author Explores The Bizarre, Untold Life Of A Brilliant And Eccentric Musician. The Composer Arnold Schoenberg Called Him An Utterly Extraordinary Pianist Of Incredible Originality And Conviction, Yet Today He Is All But Forgotten. Born In Budapest In 1903, Ervin Nyiregyhzi (nyeer-edge-hah-zee) Was A Remarkable Prodigy. At Eight He Performed At Buckingham Palace, And When He Was Thirteen, A Psychologist Published A Book About Him. In His Teens, His Idiosyncratic, Intensely Romantic Playing Electrified Audiences And Astounded Critics In Europe And America. But His Adult Career Quickly Foundered, And He Was Reduced To Penury. In 1928, He Settled In Los Angeles, And Eventually He Withdrew From Public Life, Preferring To Spend His Time Quietly Composing. Psychologically, He Remained A Child, And Found The Ordinary Demands Of Daily Life Onerous He Struggled Even To Dress Himself. He Drank Heavily, Was Insatiable Sexually (he Married Ten Times), And Described Himself As A Fortissimo Bastard, Yet Such Was His Talent And Charisma That He Numbered Among His Friends And Champions Celebrities Such As Jack Dempsey, Theodore Dreiser, Bela Lugosi, And Gloria Swanson. Rediscovered In The 1970s, He Enjoyed A Brief, Sensational, And Controversial Renaissance Before Slipping Back Into Obscurity. He Died In 1987. Lost Genius, The Product Of Ten Years Research, Is The First Biography Of Nyiregyhzi, Whose Story Is Among The Most Fascinating And Bizarre In Twentieth-century Music. Prelude : The Strange Case Of Ervin Nyiregyházi -- Musical Wonder Child, 1903-1920 -- A Young Liszt Of The Pianoforte, 1920-1928 -- A Soldier Of Fortune, 1928-1972 -- The Pianist Who Came In From The Cold, 1972-1980 -- A Great Antithesis, 1980-1987 -- Postlude : The Nyiregyházi Legacy. Kevin Bazzana. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 348-368) And Index. The award-winning author of Wondrous Strange , the critically acclaimed biography of Glenn Gould, explores the bizarre, untold life of another brilliant and eccentric musician. The composer Arnold Schoenberg called him an “utterly extraordinary” pianist of “incredible originality and conviction,” yet today he is all but forgotten. Born in Budapest in 1903, Ervin Nyiregyházi (nyeer-edge-hah-zee) was a remarkable prodigy: at eight he performed at Buckingham Palace, and when he was thirteen a psychologist published a book about him. In his teens, his idiosyncratic, intensely Romantic playing electrified audiences and astounded critics in Europe and America. But his adult career quickly foundered, and he was reduced to penury. In 1928, he settled in Los Angeles, and eventually he withdrew from public life, preferring to spend his time quietly composing. Psychologically, he remained a child, and found the ordinary demands of daily life onerous — he struggled even to dress himself. He drank heavily, was insatiable sexually (he married ten times), and described himself as “a fortissimo bastard,” yet such was his talent and charisma that he numbered among his friends and champions celebrities such as Jack Dempsey, Theodore Dreiser, Bela Lugosi, and Gloria Swanson. Rediscovered in the 1970s, he enjoyed a brief, sensational, and controversial renaissance before slipping back into obscurity. He died in 1987. Lost Genius , the product of ten years’ research, is the first biography of Nyiregyházi, whose story is among the most fascinating — and bizarre — in twentieth-century music. Born in Budapest in 1903, Ervin Nyiregyhá (nyeer-edge-hah-zee) was composing at two, giving his first public recital at six, and performing all over Europe by eight. He was soon recognized as one of the most remarkable child prodigies in history and became the subject of a four-year study by a psychologist. By twenty-five, he had all but disappeared. Mismanaged, exploited, and insistent on an intensely Romantic style, his career foundered in adulthood and he was reduced to penury. In 1928, he settled in Los Angeles, where he performed sporadically and worked in Hollywood. Psychologically, he remained a child, and found the ordinary demands of daily life onerous -- he struggled even to dress himself. He drank heavily, was insatiable sexually (he married ten times), and lived in abject poverty, yet such was his talent and charisma that he numbered among his friends and champions Rudolph Valentino, Harry Houdini, Theodore Dreiser, Bela Lugosi, and Gloria Swanson. Rediscovered in the 1970s, he enjoyed a sensational and controversial renaissance. Kevin Bazzana explores the brilliant but troubled mind of a geniune Romantic adrift in the modern age. The story he tells is one of the most fascinating - and bizarre -- in the history of music. Born In 1903, Pianist Ervin Nyiregyházi Was The Subject Of The First Book Devoted To The Scientific Study Of A Single Prodigy. By Twenty-five He Had All But Disappeared. Mismanaged, Exploited, And Unfashionably Romantic, His Career Floundered In Adulthood. He Drank Heavily, Married Ten Times, And Was Reduced To Penury, Sometimes Living On The Subway. He Settled In Los Angeles Where He Performed Sporadically, Counting Many Of Holly-wood’s Elite Among His Friends, Including Gloria Swanson, A Likely Lover. Rediscovered In The 1970s, He Enjoyed A Sensational And Controversial Renaissance, Before Slipping Back Into Obscurity. Born in 1903, pianist Ervin Nyiregyhazi was the subject of the first book devoted to the scientific study of a single prodigy. By twenty-five he had all but disappeared. Mismanaged, exploited, and unfashionably romantic, his career floundered in adulthood. He drank heavily, married ten times, and was reduced to penury, sometimes living on the subway. He settled in Los Angeles where he performed sporadically, counting many of Hollywood's elite among his friends, including Gloria Swanson, a likely lover. Rediscovered in the 1970s, he enjoyed a sensational and controversial renaissance, before slipping back into obscurity. Kevin Bazzana's biography of pianist Ervin Nyiregyhzi, a prodigy whose career floundered in adulthood