In the manuscript of his Autobiographical Notes Heinrich Gustavovich Neuhaus claimed: “Any artist who is not completely untalented would be able to talk about his life with far more interest than I ever could about my own mortal existence.” Concealed behind this characteristically coy remark, however, is a backdrop of vibrant cultural and familial connections that set Neuhaus on course to becoming one of the most influential musicians of his time.

The second of two children, Heinrich Felix was born on April 12, 1888 (OS March 31), in the provincial town of Elisavetgrad in imperial Russia. Later renamed Kirovograd, and located in what was to become Ukraine, Elisavetgrad's long distance from the key cultural capitals did not, however, isolate it from artistic life. Since becoming the host for what was to be Franz Liszt's last public recital as a virtuoso pianist in 1847, Elisavetgrad was able to boast a modest yet thriving cosmopolitan musical community that proved to be the seedbed for a generation of some of the most influential Slavic musicians in history.

Heinrich Neuhaus's father, Gustav Heinrich (later known by the Russified patronymic Wilhelmovich), was born in 1847 in Kalkar, Germany, into a large family of German and Dutch parentage. According to Heinrich Neuhaus, his father was “very musical […] and in love with pianism all his life.” Gustav Neuhaus's studied piano at the Cologne Conservatory between 1867 and 1870 with Ernst Rudorff, and then with its director Ferdinand Hiller. Thus, his musical views were shaped by seminal figures who were closely connected to the circle of Clara and Robert Schumann, Frédéric Chopin, Felix Mendelssohn, and Franz Liszt. There are conflicting opinions as to whether or not Gustav Neuhaus's piano studies led to his graduation from the institution—the only official document relating to his time there, dated August 22, 1870, states that he attended as a “free listener [and distinguished himself as a] fine accompanist.” 5 Indeed, for several months after leaving the conservatory he continued his piano studies in Berlin and maintained regular contact with Hiller to seek his advice and counsel.