Jascha Heifetz: Early Years in Russia

7. Fall 1911: In the Class of Professor Auer

102 Professor Leopold Auer, born on June 7, 1845 (NS), was already sixty-six years old when Jascha entered his class in 1911. His fatherwasapainterfromthesmallHungariantownofVeszprémnearLake Balaton. In his 1923 biography, My Long Life in Music, published in New York, Auer wrote about his journey from difficult beginnings in the backwaters of the Austrian Empire to a successful musical career in the upper circles of the Russian Empire. The only major Russian work on Auer’s life is a 1962 monograph by Lev Raaben.1 Owing to the absence of documents pertaining to Auer’s career in the archives of the conservatory and the Russian Music Society (RMO),Raaben relied onpersonalcorrespondence, conservatory reports, and other indirect sources. There was a reason for the absence of documents: the files of professors still in Russia after the 1917 revolutions were kept, but those belonging to Auer and others who departed, such as Nikolai Malko and Vladimir Drozdov, were discarded. Considering the shortage of official material on Auer’s life, an unpublished document about Auer discovered in one of Heifetz’s scrapbooks holds significant historical value.2 The document is Auer’s official Russian work record, and it is unclear how Heifetz acquired it. Perhaps Auer Fall 1911: In the Class of Professor Auer CHAPTER SEVEN 103 Fall 1911: In the Class of Professor Auer gave it to him as a gift, or maybe Heifetz received it after Auer’s death. In any case, it is clear from the accompanying envelope that the documents were originally sent from the Petrograd Conservatory to Auer’s address in New York City. The package is dated October 11, 1923, and the document includes a stamp and the signature of the Petrograd Conservatory business manager. Another stamp from the Petrograd regional council states that there was no objection regarding the removal of the document from Russia. This suggests Auer made the request himself from New York. The impressive document dates from the year Auer arrived in Russia on the invitation of the RMO, 1868, and continues chronologically, according to the Julian Calendar (Old Style): September 1, 1868 Appointed Adjunct Professor of Violin at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. November 1, 1872 By order of the Minister of the Imperial Court, No. 3299, dated October 3, 1873, assigned to the administration of the Directorate of Imperial Theaters, as Artist-Violinist, with an annual salary of 1300 rubles. March 20, 1874 The Minister of the Imperial Court most humbly declares that His Majesty , the Most Gracious Emperor, has deigned to bestow upon the violinist Auer the title of His Majesty’s Soloist. March 2, 1879 By decree of the Artistic Council of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, affirmed by the Most Worthy Chairman of the Imperial Russian Music Society , promoted to Adjunct Professor First Degree. January 1, 1882 Most graciously appointed Cavalier of the Order of St. Anne, Third Degree , for exceptionally devoted service to the St. Petersburg Conservatory. January 28, 1883 With the approval of the Minister of Internal Affairs, administered the oath of Russian citizenship in the presence of the Chief of Police of St. Petersburg. 104 Jascha Heifetz January 1, 1888 For exceptionally devoted service to the St. Petersburg Conservatory, most graciously appointed Cavalier of the Order of St. Stanislav, Second Degree. January 1, 1892 For exceptionally devoted service to the St. Petersburg Conservatory, Auer is most graciously appointed Cavalier of the Order of St. Anne, Second Degree. February 1, 1895 For exceptionally devoted service to the St. Petersburg Conservatory, appointed Cavalier of the Order of St. Equal-of-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, Fourth Degree. June 19, 1896 By decision of the Governing Senate, June 8, 1895, admitted into the Hereditary Nobility with the right to be entered into the Genealogical Book of the Russian Nobility, Part Three, Certificate No. 2705 from the Department of Heraldry. April 6, 1903 By order of the President of His Majesty’s Chancellery, on the sixth day of April, 1903, most graciously granted the rank of State Councillor. April 2, 1906 By order of the President of His Majesty’s Chancellery, on the second day of April, 1906, most graciously granted the rank of Acting State Councillor. April 7, 1908 By order of the Minister of Internal Affairs, on the petition of the Most Worthy Vice-Chairman of the Imperial Russian Music Society, confirmed by his Royal Highness to the honorary rank of Professor Emeritus. December 18, 1909 For exceptionally...