Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Josef Weiss (also Weiß, 5 November 1864 – 1945) was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He began his career as a concert pianist in 1877 at the age of 13. He performed in concert halls internationally through 1924, and was particularly admired for his performances of the works of Johannes Brahms, Frédéric Chopin, and Franz Liszt; the latter of whom was his teacher.
He was notably the first composer to write a film score for a German language film, writing music that accompanied the premiere of The Student of Prague in 1913. His piano score for that film was later orchestrated for presentations of that film at music festivals internationally in 2013. A victim of the Holocaust, he died while interned in the Budapest Ghetto in 1945.
Weiss was a gifted concert pianist who played best when in lower pressure situations. High stress environments had a negative impact on both his playing, and temperament.
In 1910 a highly publicized incident occurred between Weiss and conductor Gustav Mahler during a rehearsal with the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall. Some sources alleged that Weiss attacked Mahler during an argument with the conductor with his music score, whereas others claimed he merely threw his score on the ground or slammed the piano shut during a heated argument. Sources agree that Weiss left the rehearsal and that the orchestra was forced to find another player at the last minute for their impending concert. This widely publicized event had a negative impact on Weiss's reputation, although Mahler continued to hold Weiss in high esteem as a concert pianist and maintained a friendship with the pianist after this event occurred.
Josef Weiss (also Weiß, 5 November 1864 – 1945) was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He began his career as a concert pianist in 1877 at the age of 13. He performed in concert halls internationally through 1924, and was particularly admired for his performances of the works of Johannes Brahms, Frédéric Chopin, and Franz Liszt; the latter of whom was his teacher.
He was notably the first composer to write a film score for a German language film, writing music that accompanied the premiere of The Student of Prague in 1913. His piano score for that film was later orchestrated for presentations of that film at music festivals internationally in 2013. A victim of the Holocaust, he died while interned in the Budapest Ghetto in 1945.
Weiss was a gifted concert pianist who played best when in lower pressure situations. High stress environments had a negative impact on both his playing, and temperament.
In 1910 a highly publicized incident occurred between Weiss and conductor Gustav Mahler during a rehearsal with the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall. Some sources alleged that Weiss attacked Mahler during an argument with the conductor with his music score, whereas others claimed he merely threw his score on the ground or slammed the piano shut during a heated argument. Sources agree that Weiss left the rehearsal and that the orchestra was forced to find another player at the last minute for their impending concert. This widely publicized event had a negative impact on Weiss's reputation, although Mahler continued to hold Weiss in high esteem as a concert pianist and maintained a friendship with the pianist after this event occurred.
