Leo Podolsky
Encyclopedia
Leo Podolsky was a classical pianist and educator.
Leo Podolsky had many piano teachers in his youth, but George Lalewicz was credited as the most successful. Podolsky also studied at the Cracow Conservatory, and, eventually, he enrolled in the Vienna Academy of Music, where he won the Liszt
and the Anton Rubinstein
prizes. Podolsky made his Berlin debut in 1912.
Podolsky had reached agreement on an international concert tour at the time of his graduation, but it was canceled at the onset of World War I
. He was inducted into the Russian military, and during his service, gave concerts in Russia
and Siberia
. Stranded in Yokohama, Japan by the [Russian Revolution (1917)|Russian Revolution, Podolsky gave 426 performances in a tour of Asia and the Pacific Rim that he organized. He also appeared with symphony orchestras in Java
, Japan
, China
, The Philippines, Federated Malay States
, Dutch East Indies
, British India
, Burma and Ceylon. Upon his return to Europe, Podolsky taught at Berlin’s New Conservatory of Music and gave concerts throughout Europe.
Podolsky made his United States debut in Chicago, Illinois in 1924 where he gave three recitals over eight weeks. He also performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
. He made his New York
debut on December 1, 1927 at Town Hall.
Podolsky headed the piano department at Saint Marys College
in Notre Dame, Indiana
for 18 years, and he joined the faculty of the Sherwood Music School in Chicago in 1926. Podolsky moved to Burbank, California
in 1983 after the death of his second wife. His extensive collection of music memorabilia was donated to the University of Southern California
Music Department on his death.
Podolsky recorded numerous piano roll
s for the American Piano Company (Ampico).
Leo Podolsky had many piano teachers in his youth, but George Lalewicz was credited as the most successful. Podolsky also studied at the Cracow Conservatory, and, eventually, he enrolled in the Vienna Academy of Music, where he won the Liszt
Liszt
Liszt is a Hungarian surname. Notable persons with that surname include:* Franz Liszt , Hungarian composer and pianist* Adam Liszt , father of Franz Liszt* Anna Liszt , mother of Franz Liszt...
and the Anton Rubinstein
Anton Rubinstein
Anton Grigorevich Rubinstein was a Russian-Jewish pianist, composer and conductor. As a pianist he was regarded as a rival of Franz Liszt, and he ranks amongst the great keyboard virtuosos...
prizes. Podolsky made his Berlin debut in 1912.
Podolsky had reached agreement on an international concert tour at the time of his graduation, but it was canceled at the onset of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He was inducted into the Russian military, and during his service, gave concerts in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. Stranded in Yokohama, Japan by the [Russian Revolution (1917)|Russian Revolution, Podolsky gave 426 performances in a tour of Asia and the Pacific Rim that he organized. He also appeared with symphony orchestras in Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, The Philippines, Federated Malay States
Federated Malay States
The Federated Malay States was a federation of four protected states in the Malay Peninsula—Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang—established by the British government in 1895, which lasted until 1946, when they, together with the Straits Settlements and the Unfederated Malay...
, Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
, British India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Burma and Ceylon. Upon his return to Europe, Podolsky taught at Berlin’s New Conservatory of Music and gave concerts throughout Europe.
Podolsky made his United States debut in Chicago, Illinois in 1924 where he gave three recitals over eight weeks. He also performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
. He made his New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
debut on December 1, 1927 at Town Hall.
Podolsky headed the piano department at Saint Marys College
Saint Mary's College (Indiana)
Saint Mary's College is a private Catholic liberal arts college founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross. It is located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community northeast of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States — as are the University of Notre Dame and Holy...
in Notre Dame, Indiana
Notre Dame, Indiana
Notre Dame is a census-designated place north of South Bend in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States; it includes the campuses of three colleges: the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College, and Holy Cross College. Notre Dame is split between Clay and Portage Townships...
for 18 years, and he joined the faculty of the Sherwood Music School in Chicago in 1926. Podolsky moved to Burbank, California
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
in 1983 after the death of his second wife. His extensive collection of music memorabilia was donated to the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
Music Department on his death.
Podolsky recorded numerous piano roll
Piano roll
A piano roll is a music storage medium used to operate a player piano, piano player or reproducing piano. A piano roll is a continuous roll of paper with perforations punched into it. The peforations represent note control data...
s for the American Piano Company (Ampico).
Books written or edited by Leo Podolsky
- Khaki and Tails: The Autobiography of Dr. Leo Podolsky, By Leo Podolsky, distributed by TMR Productions, 1977.
- Piano Progress: Approach to Music for the Partially Sighted, By June Davison, Ardella Schaub, Leo Podolsky, Volkwein, 1972
- Duet Playing: Piano, edited by Leo Podolsky, Alfred Publishing, 1985
Further Reading and Listening
- Interview with Leo Podolsky, By Sulamit Vickers, American Jewish Committee, New York Public Library, Dorot Jewish Division. Oral History Collection, New York Public Library, Published 1979