Hans von Schellendorf

Hans Bronsart von Schellendorf was a German pianist and composer born in Berlin. He studied at Berlin University and took music lessons with Siegfried Dehn before moving to Weimar in 1853 to study under Franz Liszt. He became a member of Liszt's inner circle and, in 1857, served as the soloist for the premiere of Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 2, a work dedicated to him. Bronsart often signed his letters to Liszt as "Hans II," acknowledging Hans von Bülow's status as Liszt's premier student. In 1861, he married Ingeborg Starck, a fellow pianist and composer who was also a pupil of Liszt.

Bronsart's career involved significant touring as a pianist in cities such as Paris and St. Petersburg, as well as conducting and administrative leadership. He served as the conductor of the Euterpe-Konzerte orchestra in Leipzig from 1860 to 1862. He later succeeded Hans von Bülow as the head of the Berlin Society of Friends of Music (1865–1867). Bülow highly regarded Bronsart as one of the most significant figures of the Weimar composition school. Following this, Bronsart held the prestigious position of General Director of the Hanover Royal Theatres for twenty years (1867–1887) and held a similar post in Weimar from 1887 to 1895.

As a composer, Bronsart is best known for his Piano Concerto in F-sharp minor (1873), which was part of Hans von Bülow's repertoire and was later recorded by Michael Ponti. His other works include the orchestral "Spring Fantasy" (Frühlings-Fantasie), the opera "The Corsair", two symphonies, a piano trio, and various pieces for solo piano. He died in Munich in 1913.

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