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Impresario Victor Hochhauser, who introduced Russian musical genius to West, dies aged 95

Along with his wife Lilian, he forged a bridge between British and Russian music, opera and ballet

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One of Britain’s foremost impresarios, Victor Hochhauser, has died aged 95.

Along with his wife, Lilian, who survives him, he introduced a host of Russian classical music acts and ballet to the West, including David Oistrakh, Mstislav Rostropovich, Emil Gilels, Sviatoslav Richter and the Bolshoi Ballet.

Devout and observant, Victor came to Britain from Slovakia as a refugee from the Nazis with his family in 1939. His grandfather and great-grandfather were rabbis and he was a direct descendant of the Chatam Sofer, a leading Orthodox Rabbi.

The Hochhausers were noted for their introduction of affordable weekend concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, which gave many young musicians their first chance to make a living and introduced classical music to people who otherwise may not have encountered it.

The couple received the Royal Academy of Dancing’s Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award in 2009; in 2006 they were given a special prize by the Russian government for their role in promoting Russian culture in Britain; and in 1993 Victor was presented with a CBE. Lilian was awarded a CBE in 2018.

They met in London while organising a charity concert for Holocaust hero, Rabbi Dr Solomon Schonfeld. It featured the great British pianist Solomon, and was such a success that Lilian and Victor decided to stage another concert, starring the young violinist Ida Haendel. 

“Again, it went very well,” Lilian told the JC, “so it seemed like a good idea to continue.” Victor added: “It seemed like a good idea to marry me, too!”

The couple married in 1949 and had four children, Shari, Simon, Mark and Daniel. They have 11 grandchildren.

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