Jos - Iturbi's granddaughters

Pianist, born in Spain. A disciple of Malats in Valencia, in 1913 he was awarded first prize by the Paris Conservatory. He became a professor in Geneva and then moved to the USA, becoming a naturalized citizen in 1948. Famous as a soloist, he also dedicated himself to orchestra direction and acted in several films.

José Iturbi (born 28 November 1895 in Valencia, Spain; He was involved in a complex family custody battle in the 1940s that culminated in his former son-in-law kidnapping Iturbi's two granddaughters.

Of Basque descent, Iturbi studied in Malta and at the Valencia and Paris conservatories on scholarship. He often appeared in concert with his sister, Amparo Iturbi, who was also a renowned pianist.

Iturbi appeared as an actor-performer in several filmed musicals of the 1940s. Unfortunately, while he was popular during his lifetime, his Hollywood film career caused many connoisseurs to undervalue him as a serious musician at a time when such "cross-over" activities where accepted with difficulty.

José Iturbi continued his public performances into his eighties.

Iturbi's granddaughters

Iturbi's daughter María had married Stephan Hero, a violinist. María and Stephan Hero separated in 1939 and María took the children with her to California. At age 28, in 1946, Iturbi's daughter, committed suicide.

María Iturbi had obtained legal custody of the children her 1941 divorce from Hero. Already in 1943 José Iturbi had taken his daughter to court for custody of the girls. Hero absconded with them while Iturbi was on an European concert tour in 1947. After an extended court battle, Hero and Iturbi ultimately resolved their differences outside the courtroom and the girls remained with their father.