born Nov. 18, 1860, Kury 0142; ówka, Podolia province, Russian Poland
died June 29, 1941, New York, N.Y., U.S.
Polish pianist, composer, and statesman.
After teaching at the Warsaw Conservatory (187883), when he wrote most of the pieces for which he is remembered (including Minuet in G ), he studied with Theodor Leschetizky in Vienna from 1884. His U.S. debut at Carnegie Hall (1891) was followed by a 117-concert North American tour, during which his pianism and dashingly Romantic image brought him a wild popularity. During World War I he worked for Polish independence; in 1919 he served briefly as the first premier of the new state, representing it at the Paris Peace Conference.