Tossy Spivakovsky
Encyclopedia
Nathan "Tossy" Spivakovsky (23 December 1906 - 20 July 1998) was a Jewish Russia
n-born, German
-trained violin
ist, who taught in Australia
and later settled in the United States
.
in 1906 and grew up in Berlin, where he studied with Arrigo Serato privately and with Willy Hess
at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik
. He was a prodigy – he gave his first recital at age 10 and had his first European tour at age 13, becoming concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic at only 18 after being talent spotted by Wilhelm Furtwängler
. A year later, he left to follow a solo career in Europe.
In the 1920s he played in the Spivakovsky Duo with his brother Jacob "Jascha" (1896–1970), a talented pianist. In 1930 he formed the Spivakovsky-Kurtz Trio with Jascha and cellist Edmund Kurtz. The trio was on a tour of Australia
in 1933 when the Nazi Party took power in Germany. This put an end to his European career, and he decided to stay. He married in Australia and had a child. All three members of the trio joined the teaching staff of the University of Melbourne
Conservatorium of Music. Jascha remained in Australia and became an Australian citizen. Another brother, the violinist and cellist Isaac 'Issy' (1902–1977), who had studied violin under Willy Hess, and cello with Hugo Becker
and Gregor Piatigorsky
, also migrated to Australia in 1934, and for 28 years (1937–1965) taught violin, viola and cello at Scotch College, Melbourne
. A fourth brother, Adolf (1891–1958), a bass-baritone, also migrated to Melbourne in 1934 and taught at the University Conservatorium where his students included the sopranos Glenda Raymond and Sylvia Fisher
.
Tossy remained in Melbourne for seven years. In 1940 he moved to the United States
and made his New York
debut at Town Hall that year. He became concertmaster of the Cleveland Orchestra
under Artur Rodziński
, was frequently soloist, and in this capacity in 1943 he gave the first United States performance of Bartók
’s Violin Concerto No. 2
, thus launching his career in the U.S. as a soloist. He also gave the work its first performances in New York and San Francisco. Bartók himself described Tossy's performance of his violin concerto as "first rate". "Was this the best since Heifetz," wrote the San Francisco Chronicle's Alfred Frankenstein after a 1948 performance of the Bartók Violin Concerto, "or was this just the best, period?" Following Tossy's New York performance of the violin concerto by Gian Carlo Menotti
, a review appearing in the May 3, 1954 edition of Time Magazine stated: "As always, his tone was luxuriant, his pitch impeccable, and he brought the music to full-blooded life." The same article referred to him as "one of the most brilliant violinists alive." He was also the soloist in the premieres of Leon Kirchner
's Sonata Concertante and David Diamond
's Canticle and Perpetual Motion. For more than four decades he travelled extensively throughout the U.S., South America and Europe giving solo performances, and also taught violin and chamber music at the Juilliard School
from 1974 to 1989.
He recorded Tchaikovsky
's Violin Concerto
with the London Symphony Orchestra
under Walter Goehr
and Sibelius
's Violin Concerto
conducted by Tauno Hannikainen
. He also made the first studio recording of Bartók’s Violin Sonata No. 2 with Arthur Balsam
, issued in late 1947 by Concert Hall Society. (The earlier version by the composer accompanying Joseph Szigeti
was a live performance, and only issued later.) He recorded the Menotti Violin Concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
under Charles Munch. In 1925-31 he made a number of other recordings, on the Parlophone label, consisting mainly of popular pieces and encores. In 1970, he was preparing to record the Beethoven
violin sonatas with his brother Jascha, when the latter died.
He also composed, and published his own cadenzas to the Beethoven and Mozart
concertos. In order to draw from his instrument the richest, most brilliant tone possible, he developed an innovative method of bowing that was described in detail in a book entitled "The Spivakovsky Way of Bowing," by Gaylord Yost, 1949, Volkwein Bros. Inc., Pittsburgh, PA. In a life-long effort to perform his repertoire just as the composers wanted their music performed, he sought and researched their original sheet music. Upon discovering that Bach wanted certain chords in his solo violin suites played without arpeggiation, he wrote an article entitled "Polyphony in Bach’s Works for solo Violin," published in 1967 in THE MUSIC REVIEW, Vol. 28, No. 4., in which he provided the evidence for Bach’s preference.
Tossy Spivakovsky died in Westport, Connecticut
, United States, age 91, survived by his daughter, Ruth Voorhis, of Brandon, Manitoba
, Canada, and a grandson, Dave Mark Voorhis, of Derbyshire
, UK.
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, German
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...
-trained 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....
ist, who taught in 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...
and later settled in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
Tossy Spivakovsky was born in OdessaOdessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
in 1906 and grew up in Berlin, where he studied with Arrigo Serato privately and with Willy Hess
Willy Hess (violinist)
Willy Hess was a German violin virtuoso and violin teacher.-Biography:Will Hess was born in Mannheim in 1859. He was a student of Joseph Joachim and he also studied with his father, who was a pupil of Louis Spohr....
at 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...
. He was a prodigy – he gave his first recital at age 10 and had his first European tour at age 13, becoming concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic at only 18 after being talent spotted by Wilhelm Furtwängler
Wilhelm Furtwängler
Wilhelm Furtwängler was a German conductor and composer. He is widely considered to have been one of the greatest symphonic and operatic conductors of the 20th century. By the 1930s he had built a reputation as one of the leading conductors in Europe, and he was the leading conductor who remained...
. A year later, he left to follow a solo career in Europe.
In the 1920s he played in the Spivakovsky Duo with his brother Jacob "Jascha" (1896–1970), a talented pianist. In 1930 he formed the Spivakovsky-Kurtz Trio with Jascha and cellist Edmund Kurtz. The trio was on a tour of 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...
in 1933 when the Nazi Party took power in Germany. This put an end to his European career, and he decided to stay. He married in Australia and had a child. All three members of the trio joined the teaching staff of the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
Conservatorium of Music. Jascha remained in Australia and became an Australian citizen. Another brother, the violinist and cellist Isaac 'Issy' (1902–1977), who had studied violin under Willy Hess, and cello with Hugo Becker
Hugo Becker
for french actor see Hugo BeckerHugo Becker was a prominent German cellist, cello teacher, and composer. He studied at a young age with Alfredo Piatti, and later Friedrich Grützmacher in Dresden.He was born in 1863 in Strasbourg; his father Jean Becker was a famous violinist...
and Gregor Piatigorsky
Gregor Piatigorsky
Gregor Piatigorsky was a Russian-born American cellist.-Early life:...
, also migrated to Australia in 1934, and for 28 years (1937–1965) taught violin, viola and cello at Scotch College, Melbourne
Scotch College, Melbourne
Scotch College, Melbourne is an independent, Presbyterian, day and boarding school for boys, located in Hawthorn, an inner-eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
. A fourth brother, Adolf (1891–1958), a bass-baritone, also migrated to Melbourne in 1934 and taught at the University Conservatorium where his students included the sopranos Glenda Raymond and Sylvia Fisher
Sylvia Fisher
Sylvia Fisher was an Australian operatic soprano whose stage career was made in England, who was especially distinguished in German opera, and who created the role of Miss Wingrave in Benjamin Britten's Owen Wingrave in 1971....
.
Tossy remained in Melbourne for seven years. In 1940 he moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and 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 at Town Hall that year. He became concertmaster of the Cleveland Orchestra
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
under Artur Rodziński
Artur Rodzinski
Artur Rodziński was a Polish conductor of opera and symphonic music. He is especially noted for his tenures as music director of the Cleveland Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic in the 1930s and 1940s.-Biography:...
, was frequently soloist, and in this capacity in 1943 he gave the first United States performance of Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
’s Violin Concerto No. 2
Violin Concerto No. 2 (Bartók)
Béla Bartók's Violin Concerto No. 2, BB 117 was dedicated to the Hungarian violin virtuoso, Zoltán Székely, who requested the composition in 1936, and is a prime example of verbunkos style....
, thus launching his career in the U.S. as a soloist. He also gave the work its first performances in New York and San Francisco. Bartók himself described Tossy's performance of his violin concerto as "first rate". "Was this the best since Heifetz," wrote the San Francisco Chronicle's Alfred Frankenstein after a 1948 performance of the Bartók Violin Concerto, "or was this just the best, period?" Following Tossy's New York performance of the violin concerto by Gian Carlo Menotti
Gian Carlo Menotti
Gian Carlo Menotti was an Italian-American composer and librettist. Although he often referred to himself as an American composer, he kept his Italian citizenship. He wrote the classic Christmas opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, among about two dozen other operas intended to appeal to popular...
, a review appearing in the May 3, 1954 edition of Time Magazine stated: "As always, his tone was luxuriant, his pitch impeccable, and he brought the music to full-blooded life." The same article referred to him as "one of the most brilliant violinists alive." He was also the soloist in the premieres of Leon Kirchner
Leon Kirchner
Leon Kirchner was an American composer of contemporary classical music. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his String Quartet No. 3.Kirchner was born in Brooklyn, New York...
's Sonata Concertante and David Diamond
David Diamond
David Diamond is the name of:* David Diamond , American composer* David Diamond * David Diamond , American screenwriter* David Diamond, frontman and songwriter with Canadian band The Kings...
's Canticle and Perpetual Motion. For more than four decades he travelled extensively throughout the U.S., South America and Europe giving solo performances, and also taught violin and chamber music at 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...
from 1974 to 1989.
He recorded Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
's Violin Concerto
Violin Concerto (Tchaikovsky)
The Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35, written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1878, is one of the best known of all violin concertos. It is also considered to be among the most technically difficult works for violin.-Instrumentation:...
with the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
under Walter Goehr
Walter Goehr
Walter Goehr was a German composer and conductor.Goehr was born in Berlin where studied with Arnold Schoenberg and embarked on a conducting career, before being forced as a Jew to seek employment outside Germany, while working for Berlin Radio in 1932. He was invited to become music director for...
and Sibelius
Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer of the later Romantic period whose music played an important role in the formation of the Finnish national identity. His mastery of the orchestra has been described as "prodigious."...
's Violin Concerto
Violin Concerto (Sibelius)
The Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47, was written by Jean Sibelius in 1904.-History:Sibelius originally dedicated the concerto to the noted violinist Willy Burmester, who promised to play the concerto in Berlin...
conducted by Tauno Hannikainen
Tauno Hannikainen
Tauno Hannikainen was a Finnish cellist and conductor.Born in Jyväskylä, he was the son of the composer Pekka Juhani Hannikainen. The pianist Ilmari Hannikainen and the conductor Väinö Hannikainen were his brothers. He studied first as a cellist in Helsinki and abroad...
. He also made the first studio recording of Bartók’s Violin Sonata No. 2 with Arthur Balsam
Arthur Balsam
Artur Balsam was a Polish-born American classical pianist and pedagogue.-Biography:...
, issued in late 1947 by Concert Hall Society. (The earlier version by the composer accompanying Joseph Szigeti
Joseph Szigeti
Joseph Szigeti was a Hungarian violinist.Born into a musical family, he spent his early childhood in a small town in Transylvania. He quickly proved himself to be a child prodigy on the violin, and moved to Budapest with his father to study with the renowned pedagogue Jenő Hubay...
was a live performance, and only issued later.) He recorded the Menotti Violin Concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
under Charles Munch. In 1925-31 he made a number of other recordings, on the Parlophone label, consisting mainly of popular pieces and encores. In 1970, he was preparing to record the 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...
violin sonatas with his brother Jascha, when the latter died.
He also composed, and published his own cadenzas to the Beethoven and Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
concertos. In order to draw from his instrument the richest, most brilliant tone possible, he developed an innovative method of bowing that was described in detail in a book entitled "The Spivakovsky Way of Bowing," by Gaylord Yost, 1949, Volkwein Bros. Inc., Pittsburgh, PA. In a life-long effort to perform his repertoire just as the composers wanted their music performed, he sought and researched their original sheet music. Upon discovering that Bach wanted certain chords in his solo violin suites played without arpeggiation, he wrote an article entitled "Polyphony in Bach’s Works for solo Violin," published in 1967 in THE MUSIC REVIEW, Vol. 28, No. 4., in which he provided the evidence for Bach’s preference.
Tossy Spivakovsky died in Westport, Connecticut
Westport, Connecticut
-Neighborhoods:* Saugatuck – around the Westport railroad station near the southwestern corner of the town – a built-up area with some restaurants, stores and offices....
, United States, age 91, survived by his daughter, Ruth Voorhis, of Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba, Canada, and is located in the southwestern area of the province. Brandon is the largest city in the Westman region of Manitoba. The city is located along the Assiniboine River. Spruce Woods Provincial Park and CFB Shilo are a relatively short distance...
, Canada, and a grandson, Dave Mark Voorhis, of Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, UK.
Sources
- Australian Dictionary of Biography: Jascha Spivakovsky
- New York Times obituary, 27 July 1998
- Music web international
- ArkivMusik.com
- Neal’s Historical Classical Recordings Corner
External links
- Film of Tossy Spivakovsky - Playing in 1950.