The Cause of Feuermann’s Sudden Death

Marika Hughes, granddaughter of cellist Emanuel Feuermann, discusses the circumstances surrounding his tragic death in 1942 at the age of 39, probably from malpractice. A gynecologoist (!) was chosen by his controlling mother-in-law to perform surgery on Feuermann for severe hemorrhoids. The doctor administered an anesthetic to which he was allergic, leading to his rapid decline and death shortly after the operation. Marika Hughes also notes the sad aftermath: Eva, wife of Feuermann, sold his valuable cellos—a Montagnana and a Stradivarius—for just $10,000 within a year of his death. She was only 28 years old, with a young child (Marika’s mother) to care for, and was unprepared to navigate life alone after losing her husband.