Josef Hofmann was one of the top pianists during the first half of the 20th century. He was admired for his wide dynamic range, flawless technique, and for his spontaneous and exciting sense of musicality.
Hofmann was born in Kraków, Poland, in 1876, and his parents were both musicians. His father, Kazimierz, taught harmony and counterpoint, and conducted at the Kraków Theater, and his mother, Matylda, was a singer who also performed at the Kraków Theater. Hofmann began learning music theory from his father when he was just three years old. He learned quickly and was also fo...