Moritz (also known as Maurice) Moszkowski was born on August 23, 1854, in Breslau, then Prussia, now Poland. He received his first musical lessons within his family. In 1865, the wealthy Polish family moved to Dresden, where he was accepted into the conservatory. He composed a piano quintet at the age of thirteen. In 1869, he moved to Berlin and continued his studies there—first at the Julius Stern Academy of Music under Eduard Franck (piano) and Friedrich Kiel (composition), and later at Theodor Kullak's New Academy of Music. There he befriended the brothers Xaver and Philipp Scharwenka.
His professional career as a pianist began in 1873 with his first successes in Berlin. He then toured various provincial cities to gain experience and establish his reputation. In 1875, he and Philipp Scharwenka organized a concert in which Moszkowski performed as soloist in one of his own piano concertos. The artist, highly regarded by Franz Liszt, performed successfully throughout Europe, presenting both his own works and compositions by Chopin. His Spanish Dances, Op. 12, in particular, achieved worldwide success.
Later, Moszkowski worked in Berlin and Paris as a respected teacher, composer, and pianist. His output consists primarily of piano works, but also includes chamber music, concertos, and incidental music—among them two piano concertos, a violin concerto, three orchestral suites, an opera, and a ballet. His pianistically demanding salon and concert music is characterized by superb piano writing, which emphasizes polished piano playing as a compositional device.
Unfortunately, a nervous condition affecting his arm hampered his career as a pianist. He spent his final years in Paris, where he died impoverished and forgotten of stomach cancer on March 4, 1925. Despite his tragic end, Moszkowski left behind a significant musical legacy marked by stylistic diversity and pianistic brilliance.