Paul Ulanowsky
Encyclopedia
Paul Alexander Theodore Ulanowsky (March 4, 1908, Vienna
- 1968) was an Austrian-American pianist
, accompanist, vocal coach
, and music educator of Austria
n and Ukrainian
decent. He began his career as the pianist for the Vienna Philharmonic from 1927-1935. He then embarked on a long career as an accompanist, notably enjoying a particularly close relationship with soprano Lotte Lehmann
during the last fourteen years of her career. He played in concerts with many of the world's best singers and instrumentalists during the 1940s and 1950s.
Ulanowsky lived in the United States from the late 1930s on. He began a highly successful teaching career in the 1950s, serving on the faculties at the Berkshire Music Center and Boston University
. During the 1960s he was active as a teacher at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
and the Yale School of Music
.
, Ulanowsky's father was from the small village of Mokraya Kaligorka in Central Ukraine. His father had worked as an opera singer at the Prague State Opera
before moving to Austria where he was honored with the title of Kammersänger
. His mother, Lili Glaubauf, also had a career as a classical singer and had studied voice with his father before the couple married in 1906. As a young child Ulanowsky began learning music from his parents and before the age of 10 was already accompanying his mother and his father's students in performances.
From 1924-1926, Ulanowsky received his formal training at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna with pianist Leverin Eisenberger and composer Joseph Marx
. He also took private lessons in violin and viola. After earning a diploma in piano performance, he pursued graduate work at the University from 1926-1930 in musicology
, composition, and conducting where his instructures included Guido Adler
, William Adler, and Rudolf von Ficker. He earned diplomas in composition and conducting in 1930 at which time he was offered a conducting post in Poland; an offer he declined. He was later honored with an honorary doctorate from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
.
's Das Lied von der Erde
for the orchestra's recording of the work under conductor Bruno Walter
. In 1935 he became the accompanist for renowned contralto
Enid Szantho. In addition to performing with her in concerts in Europe, he toured with Szantho to the United States several times from 1935-1937.
In the spring of 1937, the soprano Lotte Lehmann
attended one of Szantho and Ulanowsky's concerts. Moved by Ulanowsky's playing, she approached him after the concert to come and audition for her. He complied and, after playing just a few measures of a few different songs, she engaged him on the spot to be her accompanist for her first Australian tour that coming summer. It was the beginning of a long partnership between the two which lasted until Lehmann's retirement 14 years later. Ulanowsky remained her only accompanist during these years, performing with her in concerts around the world and in masterclasses.
Ulanowsky also occasionally collaborated with other artists. He accompanied cellist Gregor Piatigorsky
for his performance at the White House
with President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt
and guests in attendance. Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
gave her first master class with Ulanowsky at the piano. She said of the event, "Without his calm assistance, I don't know how I would have made it through." Other artists with whom he performed included, William Kroll
, Bernard Greenhouse
, Joseph Fuchs
, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
, Ernst Haefliger
, George London
, Hans Hotter
, Jennie Tourel
, Hermann Prey
, Irmgard Seefried
, and Aksel Schiotz among others. Beginning in 1956 until his death twelve years later, he was the pianist for the famous Bach Aria Group
.
in Massachusetts from 1950-1956. Two of his students at Tanglewood were mezzo-soprano Betty Allen
and conductor Eve Queler
. He was a faculty member at the music conservatory at Boston University
from 1951-1955. During the 1960s he taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
and spent several summers teaching and performing at the Yale School of Music
.
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
- 1968) was an Austrian-American pianist
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...
, accompanist, vocal coach
Vocal coach
A vocal coach is a music teacher who instructs singers on how to improve their singing technique, take care of and develop their voice, and prepare for the performance of a song or other work. Vocal coaches may give private music lessons to singers, or they may coach singers who are rehearsing on...
, and music educator of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n and Ukrainian
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...
decent. He began his career as the pianist for the Vienna Philharmonic from 1927-1935. He then embarked on a long career as an accompanist, notably enjoying a particularly close relationship with soprano Lotte Lehmann
Lotte Lehmann
Charlotte "Lotte" Lehmann was a German soprano who was especially associated with German repertory. She gave memorable performances in the operas of Richard Strauss, Richard Wagner, Ludwig van Beethoven, Puccini, Mozart and Massenet. The Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier was considered her greatest...
during the last fourteen years of her career. He played in concerts with many of the world's best singers and instrumentalists during the 1940s and 1950s.
Ulanowsky lived in the United States from the late 1930s on. He began a highly successful teaching career in the 1950s, serving on the faculties at the Berkshire Music Center and Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
. During the 1960s he was active as a teacher at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
and the Yale School of Music
Yale School of Music
The Yale School of Music is one of the twelve professional schools at Yale University and one of the premier music conservatories in the world....
.
Early life and education
Born in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Ulanowsky's father was from the small village of Mokraya Kaligorka in Central Ukraine. His father had worked as an opera singer at the Prague State Opera
Prague State Opera
The Prague State Opera , is an opera and ballet company in Prague, Czech Republic. The theatre was originally founded in 1888 as the New German Theatre and from 1949 to 1989 it was known as the Smetana Theatre....
before moving to Austria where he was honored with the title of Kammersänger
Kammersänger
Kammersänger , abbreviation: "Ks.", literally means "Chamber singer." It is a German honorific title for distinguished singers...
. His mother, Lili Glaubauf, also had a career as a classical singer and had studied voice with his father before the couple married in 1906. As a young child Ulanowsky began learning music from his parents and before the age of 10 was already accompanying his mother and his father's students in performances.
From 1924-1926, Ulanowsky received his formal training at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna with pianist Leverin Eisenberger and composer Joseph Marx
Joseph Marx
Joseph Rupert Rudolf Marx was an Austrian composer, teacher and critic.-Life and career:Marx pursued studies in philosophy, art history, German studies, and music at Graz University, earning several degrees including a doctorate in 1909. He began composing seriously in 1908 and over the next four...
. He also took private lessons in violin and viola. After earning a diploma in piano performance, he pursued graduate work at the University from 1926-1930 in musicology
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
, composition, and conducting where his instructures included Guido Adler
Guido Adler
Guido Adler was a Bohemian-Austrian musicologist and writer.His father Joachim, a physician, died of typhoid fever in 1857...
, William Adler, and Rudolf von Ficker. He earned diplomas in composition and conducting in 1930 at which time he was offered a conducting post in Poland; an offer he declined. He was later honored with an honorary doctorate from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
The University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music is the performing arts college of the University of Cincinnati and is one of the nation's leading music conservatories. In its most recent rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked Cincinnati sixth nationally among university programs...
.
Performance career
While a student, Ulanowsky became the official pianist and celesta player for the Vienna Philharmonic in 1927 at the young age of 19. He served in that post for the next eight years, notably playing the celesta solo in Gustav MahlerGustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler was a late-Romantic Austrian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation. He was born in the village of Kalischt, Bohemia, in what was then Austria-Hungary, now Kaliště in the Czech Republic...
's Das Lied von der Erde
Das Lied von der Erde
Das Lied von der Erde is a large-scale work for two vocal soloists and orchestra by the Austrian composer Gustav Mahler...
for the orchestra's recording of the work under conductor Bruno Walter
Bruno Walter
Bruno Walter was a German-born conductor. He is considered one of the best known conductors of the 20th century. Walter was born in Berlin, but is known to have lived in several countries between 1933 and 1939, before finally settling in the United States in 1939...
. In 1935 he became the accompanist for renowned contralto
Contralto
Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. It typically ranges between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C , although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C or the second B above...
Enid Szantho. In addition to performing with her in concerts in Europe, he toured with Szantho to the United States several times from 1935-1937.
In the spring of 1937, the soprano Lotte Lehmann
Lotte Lehmann
Charlotte "Lotte" Lehmann was a German soprano who was especially associated with German repertory. She gave memorable performances in the operas of Richard Strauss, Richard Wagner, Ludwig van Beethoven, Puccini, Mozart and Massenet. The Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier was considered her greatest...
attended one of Szantho and Ulanowsky's concerts. Moved by Ulanowsky's playing, she approached him after the concert to come and audition for her. He complied and, after playing just a few measures of a few different songs, she engaged him on the spot to be her accompanist for her first Australian tour that coming summer. It was the beginning of a long partnership between the two which lasted until Lehmann's retirement 14 years later. Ulanowsky remained her only accompanist during these years, performing with her in concerts around the world and in masterclasses.
Ulanowsky also occasionally collaborated with other artists. He accompanied cellist Gregor Piatigorsky
Gregor Piatigorsky
Gregor Piatigorsky was a Russian-born American cellist.-Early life:...
for his performance at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
with President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
and guests in attendance. Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, DBE was a German-born Austrian/British soprano opera singer and recitalist. She was among the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century, much admired for her performances of Mozart, Schubert, Strauss, and Wolf.-Early life:Olga Maria Elisabeth Friederike...
gave her first master class with Ulanowsky at the piano. She said of the event, "Without his calm assistance, I don't know how I would have made it through." Other artists with whom he performed included, William Kroll
William Kroll
William Kroll was an American composer and violinist.Kroll was born in New York City and died in Boston, Massachusetts. His most famous composition is Banjo and Fiddle for violin and piano.-Biography:...
, Bernard Greenhouse
Bernard Greenhouse
Bernard Greenhouse was an American cellist and one of the founding members of the Beaux Arts Trio.-Life:Greenhouse was born in Newark, New Jersey. He started his professional studies with Felix Salmond at the Juilliard School when he was eighteen...
, Joseph Fuchs
Joseph Fuchs
Joseph Fuchs was one of the most important American violinists and teachers of the 20th century, and the brother of Lillian Fuchs....
, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is a retired German lyric baritone and conductor of classical music, one of the most famous lieder performers of the post-war period and "one of the supreme vocal artists of the 20th century"...
, Ernst Haefliger
Ernst Haefliger
Ernst Haefliger was a Swiss tenor.Haefliger was born in Davos, Switzerland and studied at the Zürich Conservatory. He studied with Fernando Capri in Geneva and Julius Patzak in Vienna....
, George London
George London
George London may be:*George London , Canadian operatic bass-baritone*George London *Sir George Ernest London, of the Newfoundland Commission of Government...
, Hans Hotter
Hans Hotter
Hans Hotter was a German operatic bass-baritone, admired internationally after World War II for the power, beauty, and intelligence of his singing, especially in Wagner operas. He was extremely tall and his appearance was striking because of his high, narrow face, wide mouth, and big, aquiline nose...
, Jennie Tourel
Jennie Tourel
Jennie Tourel was a Russian-American operatic mezzo-soprano, known for her work in both opera and recital performances....
, Hermann Prey
Hermann Prey
Hermann Prey was a German lyric baritone. He is most famous for lieder and for light comic baritone roles in opera.-Biography:...
, Irmgard Seefried
Irmgard Seefried
Irmgard Seefried was a distinguished German soprano who sang opera and lieder.Maria Theresia Irmgard Seefried was born in Köngetried, near Mindelheim, Bavaria, Germany, the daughter of educated Austrian-born parents. She studied at Augsburg University before making her debut in Aachen as the...
, and Aksel Schiotz among others. Beginning in 1956 until his death twelve years later, he was the pianist for the famous Bach Aria Group
Bach Aria Group
The Bach Aria Group is an ensemble of vocal and instrumental musicians that was created in 1946 by William H. Scheide in New York city to perform the works of J. S. Bach.- Founding period, 1946-1980 :...
.
Teaching career
Ulanowsky also worked as a teacher of piano and a vocal coach. In the summers he taught at the Berkshire Music Center at the Tanglewood Music FestivalTanglewood Music Festival
The Tanglewood Music Festival is a music festival held every summer on the Tanglewood estate in Lenox, Massachusetts in the Berkshire Hills in western Massachusetts....
in Massachusetts from 1950-1956. Two of his students at Tanglewood were mezzo-soprano Betty Allen
Betty Allen
Betty Allen was a renowned American operatic mezzo-soprano who had an active international singing career during the 1950s through the 1970s...
and conductor Eve Queler
Eve Queler
Eve Queler is an American conductor and the current Artistic Director of the Opera Orchestra of New York . She founded the OONY in 1971 after having worked on the staffs of the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Opera....
. He was a faculty member at the music conservatory at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
from 1951-1955. During the 1960s he taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
and spent several summers teaching and performing at the Yale School of Music
Yale School of Music
The Yale School of Music is one of the twelve professional schools at Yale University and one of the premier music conservatories in the world....
.