Sylvan Levin
Encyclopedia
Sylvan Levin was an American concert pianist and conductor. He notably served as the assistant conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra
and the New York City Symphony under Leopold Stokowski
for many years. He also founded the Philadelphia Opera Company
in 1938, serving as its director for six years.
, Levin won a scholarship to study piano at the Peabody Institute
at the young age of 12, studying there for several years. He continued with further piano and conducting studies at the Curtis Institute of Music
in Philadelphia. While still a student, Levin began to work as a concert pianist. He appeared several times as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, notably playing the American premiere of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G with the orchestra in 1932 under the baton of Stokowski.
After graduating from Curtis he became highly active in Philadelphia's musical scene, notably becoming a principal conductor with the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company
and becoming the assistant conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. In 1938, he founded the Philadelphia Opera Company
, serving as its artistic director and principal conductor for the next six years. He also founded the York Symphony Orchestra, and introduced outdoor opera to the Mann Music Center (then called Robin Hood Dell).
During the 1940s and 1950s, Levin served as music director for a number of Broadway musicals and musicals on tour in the United States. In the late 1940s, he became the musical director of WOR radio
in New York City. He notably led the U.S. State Department
sponsored European and South American tours of George Gershwin
's Porgy and Bess
from 1954 to 1956. He also served as the music director for two Broadway productions, The Girl in Pink Tights
(1954) and The Wayward Saint (1955). In 1957 he conducted the national road company performances of Lerner and Loewe
's My Fair Lady
.
After retiring from conducting, Levin joined the music faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music. he also taught as a voice teacher in Philadelphia throughout his career. Among his notable pupils was Natalie Bodanya
. He died in 1996 at his home in Great Neck, New York
at the age of 93.
He conducted Jan Peerce
's 1945 best-selling recording of Sandor Harmati
and Edward Heyman
's song "Bluebird of Happiness
", which outsold all Peerce's many operatic recordings, and became second only to Enrico Caruso's recording of George M. Cohan
's "Over There
" among the best-selling records made by opera and concert singers.
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
and the New York City Symphony under Leopold Stokowski
Leopold Stokowski
Leopold Anthony Stokowski was a British-born, naturalised American orchestral conductor, well known for his free-hand performing style that spurned the traditional baton and for obtaining a characteristically sumptuous sound from many of the great orchestras he conducted.In America, Stokowski...
for many years. He also founded the Philadelphia Opera Company
Philadelphia Opera Company
The Philadelphia Opera Company was the name of two different American opera companies active during the twentieth century in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first company was founded by impresario Oscar Hammerstein I in 1908. That company disbanded only two years later as a result of financial...
in 1938, serving as its director for six years.
Biography
Born in BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Levin won a scholarship to study piano at the Peabody Institute
Peabody Institute
The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University is a renowned conservatory and preparatory school located in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland at the corner of Charles and Monument Streets at Mount Vernon Place.-History:...
at the young age of 12, studying there for several years. He continued with further piano and conducting studies at the Curtis Institute of Music
Curtis Institute of Music
The Curtis Institute of Music is a conservatory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that offers courses of study leading to a performance Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in Opera, and Professional Studies Certificate in Opera. According to statistics compiled by U.S...
in Philadelphia. While still a student, Levin began to work as a concert pianist. He appeared several times as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, notably playing the American premiere of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G with the orchestra in 1932 under the baton of Stokowski.
After graduating from Curtis he became highly active in Philadelphia's musical scene, notably becoming a principal conductor with the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company
Philadelphia Grand Opera Company
The Philadelphia Grand Opera Company was the name of four different American opera companies active at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the twentieth century. The last and most well known of the four was founded in November 1954 with the merger of the Philadelphia Civic...
and becoming the assistant conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. In 1938, he founded the Philadelphia Opera Company
Philadelphia Opera Company
The Philadelphia Opera Company was the name of two different American opera companies active during the twentieth century in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first company was founded by impresario Oscar Hammerstein I in 1908. That company disbanded only two years later as a result of financial...
, serving as its artistic director and principal conductor for the next six years. He also founded the York Symphony Orchestra, and introduced outdoor opera to the Mann Music Center (then called Robin Hood Dell).
During the 1940s and 1950s, Levin served as music director for a number of Broadway musicals and musicals on tour in the United States. In the late 1940s, he became the musical director of WOR radio
WOR (AM)
WOR is a class A , AM radio station located in New York, New York, U.S., operating on 710 kHz. The station has a talk format and has been owned by Buckley Broadcasting since 1987, after the station was sold by RKO. The station has conservative, or right-of-center hosts.Its call letters have no...
in New York City. He notably led the U.S. State Department
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
sponsored European and South American tours of George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
's Porgy and Bess
Porgy and Bess
Porgy and Bess is an opera, first performed in 1935, with music by George Gershwin, libretto by DuBose Heyward, and lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward. It was based on DuBose Heyward's novel Porgy and subsequent play of the same title, which he co-wrote with his wife Dorothy Heyward...
from 1954 to 1956. He also served as the music director for two Broadway productions, The Girl in Pink Tights
The Girl in Pink Tights
The Girl in Pink Tights is a musical comedy with music by Sigmund Romberg; lyrics by Leo Robin; and a musical book by Jerome Chodorov and Joseph Fields. The musical opened on Broadway on March 5, 1954 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre where it ran for a total of 115 performances until it closed on June...
(1954) and The Wayward Saint (1955). In 1957 he conducted the national road company performances of Lerner and Loewe
Lerner and Loewe
Lerner and Loewe are the duo of lyricist and librettist Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe, known primarily for the music and lyrics of some of Broadway's most successful musical shows, including My Fair Lady, Camelot, and Brigadoon....
's My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe...
.
After retiring from conducting, Levin joined the music faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music. he also taught as a voice teacher in Philadelphia throughout his career. Among his notable pupils was Natalie Bodanya
Natalie Bodanya
Natalie Bodanya was an American operatic soprano who had an active international career from the late 1920s through the 1940s...
. He died in 1996 at his home in Great Neck, New York
Great Neck, New York
The term Great Neck is commonly applied to a peninsula on the North Shore of Long Island, which includes the village of Great Neck, the village of Great Neck Estates, the village of Great Neck Plaza, and others, as well as an area south of the peninsula near Lake Success and the border of Queens...
at the age of 93.
He conducted Jan Peerce
Jan Peerce
Jan Peerce was an American operatic tenor. Peerce was an accomplished performer on the operatic and Broadway concert stages, in solo recitals, and as a recording artist. He is the father of film director Larry Peerce....
's 1945 best-selling recording of Sandor Harmati
Sandor Harmati
Sandor Harmati was a Hungarian-American violinist, conductor and composer, best known for his song "Bluebird of Happiness" written in 1934 for Jan Peerce.-Biography:...
and Edward Heyman
Edward Heyman
Edward Heyman was an American musician and lyricist, best known for his compositions "Body and Soul", "When I Fall in Love", and "For Sentimental Reasons". He also contributed many songs for films.-Biography:...
's song "Bluebird of Happiness
Bluebird of Happiness (song)
"Bluebird of Happiness" is a song composed in 1934 by Sandor Harmati, with words by Edward Heyman and additional lyrics by Harry Parr-Davies.Harmati wrote the song for his friend, the tenor Jan Peerce, the leading singer at Radio City Music Hall...
", which outsold all Peerce's many operatic recordings, and became second only to Enrico Caruso's recording of George M. Cohan
George M. Cohan
George Michael Cohan , known professionally as George M. Cohan, was a major American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer, and producer....
's "Over There
Over There
"Over There" is a 1917 song popular with United States soldiers in both world wars.It was written by George M. Cohan during World War I. Notable early recordings include versions by Nora Bayes, Enrico Caruso, Billy Murray, and Charles King....
" among the best-selling records made by opera and concert singers.