Mischa Levitzki
Encyclopedia
Mischa Levitzki was a Russia
n-born American
concert pianist
.
Levitzki was born in Kremenchuk
, Ukraine
(then part of the Russian Empire
), to Jewish parents who were naturalised American citizens on a return trip to Ukraine. He was playing the violin
at the age of three, but soon developed an interest in the piano
, which he studied in Warsaw
with Aleksander Michałowski before making his debut in Antwerp in 1906.
In New York
, his father brought him to the attention of Walter Damrosch, who obtained a scholarship for him at the Institute of Musical Art (now the Juilliard School
) as a pupil of Zygmunt Stojowski
, with whom he studied from 1907 to 1911. In 1913 Levitzki entered the Berlin Hochschule für Musik
, where he became the youngest student of Ernő Dohnányi
and was awarded the Mendelssohn Prize
in 1915. By this time he had performed throughout Europe
and Scandinavia
. He made his American debut in New York
on October 17, 1916, at Aeolian Hall
, and soon made his permanent home in the United States, later becoming an American citizen. Levitzki concertized worldwide up until the time of his death. He toured in the United States, Australia
, New Zealand
and Asia
, making a reputation with his performances of the Romantic repertory. He was elected an honorary member of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity at the New England Conservatory in 1917.
He transcribe
d numerous pieces for piano, prepared a cadenza
for Beethoven
's Third Piano Concerto
, and wrote small pieces for the piano. Among his most popular compositions for piano were The Enchanted Nymph, Valse in A, Valse tzigane, and a gavotte
.
He also recorded extensively for the AMPICO Piano Roll Company during the 1920s and 30s. Many of his rolls were very popular then and are still popular amongst the AMPICO collectors of today.
This AMPICO piano roll, a re-cut of the original AMPICO roll titled "The Enchanted Nymph" which was composed and recorded by Levitziki at the AMPICO studios in the early 1930s, was one of his most popular compositions. This selection was recorded in 2008 on a rebuilt 1925 AMPICO Mason & Hamlin 7 ft Grand Piano.
Mischa Levitzki died suddenly of a heart attack aged 42, in 1941, in Avon-by-the-Sea, New Jersey
. Levitski's papers are conserved at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
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...
n-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
concert pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
.
Levitzki was born in Kremenchuk
Kremenchuk
Kremenchuk is an important industrial city in the Poltava Oblast of central Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Kremenchutskyi Raion , the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast, and is located on the banks of Dnieper River.-History:Kremenchuk was...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
(then part of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
), to Jewish parents who were naturalised American citizens on a return trip to Ukraine. He was playing the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
at the age of three, but soon developed an interest in the piano
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...
, which he studied in Warsaw
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...
with Aleksander Michałowski before making his debut in Antwerp in 1906.
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...
, his father brought him to the attention of Walter Damrosch, who obtained a scholarship for him at the Institute of Musical Art (now the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
) as a pupil of Zygmunt Stojowski
Zygmunt Stojowski
Zygmunt Denis Antoni Jordan de Stojowski was a Polish pianist and composer.-Life:Born near the city of Kielce, Stojowski began his musical training with his mother, and with Polish composer Władysław Żeleński. In Kraków, as a seventeen-year-old student, he made his debut as a concert pianist...
, with whom he studied from 1907 to 1911. In 1913 Levitzki entered the Berlin Hochschule für Musik
Berlin University of the Arts
The Universität der Künste Berlin, UdK is a public art school in Berlin, Germany, one of the four universities in the city...
, where he became the youngest student of Ernő Dohnányi
Erno Dohnányi
Ernő Dohnányi was a Hungarian conductor, composer, and pianist. He used the German form of his name Ernst von Dohnányi for most of his published compositions....
and was awarded the Mendelssohn Prize
Mendelssohn Scholarship
The Mendelssohn Scholarship refers to two scholarships awarded in Germany and in the United Kingdom. Both commemorate the composer, Felix Mendelssohn, and are awarded to promising young musicians to enable them to continue their development.-History:...
in 1915. By this time he had performed throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
. He made his American debut in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on October 17, 1916, at Aeolian Hall
Aeolian Hall (New York)
Aeolian Hall was a concert hall near Times Square in Midtown Manhattan, New York City located on the third floor of 29-33 West 42nd Street across the street from Bryant Park. The Aeolian Building was built in 1912 for the Aeolian Company, which manufactured pianos...
, and soon made his permanent home in the United States, later becoming an American citizen. Levitzki concertized worldwide up until the time of his death. He toured in the United States, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, making a reputation with his performances of the Romantic repertory. He was elected an honorary member of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity at the New England Conservatory in 1917.
He transcribe
Transcription (music)
In music, transcription can mean notating a piece or a sound which was previously unnotated, as, for example, an improvised jazz solo. Further examples include ethnomusicological notation of oral traditions of folk music, such as Béla Bartók's and Ralph Vaughan Williams' collections of the national...
d numerous pieces for piano, prepared a cadenza
Cadenza
In music, a cadenza is, generically, an improvised or written-out ornamental passage played or sung by a soloist or soloists, usually in a "free" rhythmic style, and often allowing for virtuosic display....
for Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
's Third Piano Concerto
Piano Concerto No. 3 (Beethoven)
The Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37, was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1800 and was first performed on 5 April 1803, with the composer as soloist. During that same performance, the Second Symphony and the oratorio Christ on the Mount of Olives were also debuted. The composition...
, and wrote small pieces for the piano. Among his most popular compositions for piano were The Enchanted Nymph, Valse in A, Valse tzigane, and a gavotte
Gavotte
The gavotte originated as a French folk dance, taking its name from the Gavot people of the Pays de Gap region of Dauphiné, where the dance originated. It is notated in 4/4 or 2/2 time and is of moderate tempo...
.
He also recorded extensively for the AMPICO Piano Roll Company during the 1920s and 30s. Many of his rolls were very popular then and are still popular amongst the AMPICO collectors of today.
This AMPICO piano roll, a re-cut of the original AMPICO roll titled "The Enchanted Nymph" which was composed and recorded by Levitziki at the AMPICO studios in the early 1930s, was one of his most popular compositions. This selection was recorded in 2008 on a rebuilt 1925 AMPICO Mason & Hamlin 7 ft Grand Piano.
Mischa Levitzki died suddenly of a heart attack aged 42, in 1941, in Avon-by-the-Sea, New Jersey
Avon-by-the-Sea, New Jersey
Avon-by-the-Sea is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 1,901...
. Levitski's papers are conserved at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.