Autographs of Wilhelm Backhaus
Wilhelm Backhaus ('Bachaus' on some record labels) (26 March 1884 – 5 July 1969) was a German pianist and pedagogue. He was particularly well known for his interpretations of Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, Chopin and Brahms. He was also much admired as a chamber musician.
Born in Leipzig, Backhaus was the son of a well-known architect. He began learning piano at the age of four with his mother, an amateur pianist. The boy's talent was soon recognized by Arthur Nikisch, at whose recommendation Backhaus studied under Alois Reckendorf at the Leipzig Conservatory between 1891 and 1899, then took private piano lessons with Eugen d'Albert in Frankfurt. As a boy of 9 or 10 he was taken to hear both of the Brahms piano concertos performed by d'Albert — and conducted by Brahms himself.
He made his first concert tour at the age of sixteen. In 1900 he went to England and in 1901 played for the first time in Manchester at the Gentleman's Concerts. In 1902 he performed at the Hallé Concerts, and thereafter in 12 concerts at the Queen's Hall, London, and played 6 different piano concertos at the Promenade Concerts. In 1904 he became Professor of Piano at the Royal Manchester College of Music. In 1905 he won the Anton Rubinstein Competition, with Béla Bartók taking second place. He toured widely throughout his life - in 1921 he gave seventeen concerts in Buenos Aires in less than three weeks. Backhaus made his U.S. debut on 5 January 1912 as soloist in Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto (the "Emperor") with Walter Damrosch and the New York Symphony Orchestra. He taught at the Curtis Institute of Music in 1926. In 1930, he moved to Lugano and became a citizen of Switzerland. He died in Villach in Austria, where he was due to play in a concert. His last recital a few days earlier in Ossiach was recorded.
More about Wilhelm Backhaus Wikipedia
Affiliate disclosure: When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Current items with a signature of Wilhelm Backhaus
These are the most current items with a signature of Wilhelm Backhaus that were listed on eBay and on other online stores - click here for more items.
| Picture | Item Title | Price | Store |
 | Wilhelm Backhaus Autograph + CD Brahms Piano Concerto Signed Decca | £54.00 |  |
| Wilhelm Backhaus Autograph + CD Brahms Piano Concerto Signed Decca | £54.00 | |
Traded items with a signature of Wilhelm Backhaus
The most expensive item with a signature of Wilhelm Backhaus (Leopold Auer, Mischa Elman, violin, Wilhelm Backhaus, SIGNED photograph, c1902) was sold in April 2026 for £405.00 while the cheapest item (A69 Autograph Signed Programme WILHELM BACKHAUS Pianist/Beethoven) found a new owner for £5.50 in October 2012. The month with the most items sold (3) was April 2018 with an average selling price of £35.00 for an autographed item of Wilhelm Backhaus. Sold items reached their highest average selling price in March 2022 with £239.99 and the month that saw the lowest prices with £5.50 was October 2012. In average, an autographed item from Wilhelm Backhaus is worth £30.50.
Most recently, these items with a signature of Wilhelm Backhaus were sold on eBay - click here for more items.
| Picture | Item Title | Price | Store |
 | AUTOGRAPHED Concert Programme 1923 Plymouth Wilhelm Backhaus Rosina Buckman etc | £72.00 |  |
| EFREM ZIMBALIST-WILHELM BACKHAUS - MUSICIANS - AUTOGRAPHED MUSICAL QUOTATION | £239.99 | |
 | Leopold Auer, Mischa Elman, violin, Wilhelm Backhaus, SIGNED photograph, c1902 | £405.00 | |
| Vintage Pianists WILHELM BACKHAUS (d1969) & LINDLEY EVANS (d1982 Signed page | £11.00 | |
| WILHELM BACKHAUS - GERMAN PIANIST - AUTOGRAPH + POSTCARD - 1910 | £69.99 | |
| Wilhelm Backhaus - Pianist - old card - original signed - "ca. 1907" | £229.40 | |
| WILHELM BACKHAUS 1884-1969 PIANIST / COMPOSER AUTOGRAPH WITH NOTATION & CARD | £120.00 | |
| Wilhelm Backhaus Autograph + CD Brahms Piano Concerto Signed Decca | £29.00 | |
| Wilhelm Backhaus Autograph + CD Brahms Piano Concerto Signed Decca | £29.00 | |
| Wilhelm Backhaus Autograph + CD Brahms Piano Concerto Signed Decca | £100.00 | |
| Wilhelm Backhaus Autograph + CD Brahms Piano Concerto Signed Decca | £100.00 | |
 | WILHELM BACKHAUS Hand-signed album page | £39.99 | |
| Wilhelm Backhaus Signed Musical Quotation - German Classical Pianist | £32.00 | |
| WILHELM BACKHAUS signed Photo Postcard SVEN ONLY | £40.00 | |
| Wilhelm Backhaus, German Pianist, SIGNED, postcard, AMQS | £55.00 | |
