Maryla Jonas
Encyclopedia
The pianist Maryla Jonas (b. May 31, 1911, Warsaw, Poland - d. July 3, 1959, New York, New York), pronounced Marie-la, was born in Warsaw
, Poland
, debuting her pianistic
talent at the age of 9. In spite of Jonas's father's misgivings about a career in piano performance, Jonas studied with the Polish pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski
-a fellow pupil of Witold Małcużyński and Halina Czerny-Stefańska—and made her debut with the Warsaw Philharmonic in 1920. Jonas's adult career started in 1926 with a tour of various European capitals starting in Germany
. Jonas's touring career proved successful and paved the way for a 13th place finish in the second International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition in 1932. Alexander Uninsky
took first prize in the same competition. In 1933 Jonas won the Beethoven prize of Vienna and following her victory established a successful European-based performance career.
Jonas's success in establishing herself as a European touring pianist was overshadowed in 1939 by the German invasion of Poland. Jonas refused the invitation of a Gestapo
agent to move to Berlin
and perform in a safer environment. As a result of her refusal to move to Berlin, Jonas was arrested and remained in custody for several weeks. A German officer who had once heard her perform in Germany took pity on her and had her released. The German officer advised Jonas to travel to Berlin and visit the Brazilian Embassy for aid. Jonas took the German officer's advice and traveled to Berlin on foot, walking several hundred miles short of food and without recourse to safe shelter. The distant walk to Berlin is likely to have seriously damaged Jonas's health and may have resulted in her untimely death at the age of 48.
Jonas's connection with the Brazilian embassy in Berlin proved fortuitous for her. The embassy supplied Jonas with false records that made her out to be the wife of the Ambassador's son. Jonas traveled from Berlin to Lisbon
and finally settled in the capital of Brazil
, Rio de Janeiro
. In the year 1940, while residing in Brazil, Jonas suffered a nervous breakdown and lived several months in sanatoriums. When it looked as though Jonas was on the mend, she received the painful news that one of her brothers had been killed. The news of her brother's death was followed by news that her husband and parents had also died. The painful losses Jonas experienced, resulting from the Nazi invasion of Poland, made the prospects of her future as a pianist appear unlikely. Jonas's sister and Artur Rubinstein, another famous Polish pianist, offered their support to Jonas and opened the possibility for her to return to performing and recording piano music. Jonas resumed her pianistic career in New York
making her debut at Carnegie Hall
in February, 1946.
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, debuting her pianistic
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
talent at the age of 9. In spite of Jonas's father's misgivings about a career in piano performance, Jonas studied with the Polish pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski
Ignacy Jan Paderewski
Ignacy Jan Paderewski GBE was a Polish pianist, composer, diplomat, politician, and the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland.-Biography:...
-a fellow pupil of Witold Małcużyński and Halina Czerny-Stefańska—and made her debut with the Warsaw Philharmonic in 1920. Jonas's adult career started in 1926 with a tour of various European capitals starting in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Jonas's touring career proved successful and paved the way for a 13th place finish in the second International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition in 1932. Alexander Uninsky
Alexander Uninsky
-Life and career:Alexander Uninsky was born in Kiev . He initially studied piano there in the conservatory which had been opened in 1913, and whose other graduates included Vladimir Horowitz and Alexander Brailowsky....
took first prize in the same competition. In 1933 Jonas won the Beethoven prize of Vienna and following her victory established a successful European-based performance career.
Jonas's success in establishing herself as a European touring pianist was overshadowed in 1939 by the German invasion of Poland. Jonas refused the invitation of a Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
agent to move to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and perform in a safer environment. As a result of her refusal to move to Berlin, Jonas was arrested and remained in custody for several weeks. A German officer who had once heard her perform in Germany took pity on her and had her released. The German officer advised Jonas to travel to Berlin and visit the Brazilian Embassy for aid. Jonas took the German officer's advice and traveled to Berlin on foot, walking several hundred miles short of food and without recourse to safe shelter. The distant walk to Berlin is likely to have seriously damaged Jonas's health and may have resulted in her untimely death at the age of 48.
Jonas's connection with the Brazilian embassy in Berlin proved fortuitous for her. The embassy supplied Jonas with false records that made her out to be the wife of the Ambassador's son. Jonas traveled from Berlin to Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
and finally settled in the capital of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
. In the year 1940, while residing in Brazil, Jonas suffered a nervous breakdown and lived several months in sanatoriums. When it looked as though Jonas was on the mend, she received the painful news that one of her brothers had been killed. The news of her brother's death was followed by news that her husband and parents had also died. The painful losses Jonas experienced, resulting from the Nazi invasion of Poland, made the prospects of her future as a pianist appear unlikely. Jonas's sister and Artur Rubinstein, another famous Polish pianist, offered their support to Jonas and opened the possibility for her to return to performing and recording piano music. Jonas resumed her pianistic career in 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...
making her debut at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in February, 1946.