Isaac Schwartz
Encyclopedia
Isaac Iosifovich Schwartz , also known as Isaak Shvarts, was a Soviet
composer
.
Schwartz was born in Romny
in the Ukrainian SSR in 1923. His family moved to Leningrad
in 1930, where he learned to play the piano
. He gave his first concert in 1935 with the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra.
Schwartz's father was professor of archeology at the Leningrad State University: he was arrested in 1936 and executed two years later as part of the Great Purge
. Schwartz's family was exiled to Kyrgyzstan
in 1937, and Schwartz gave private music lessons in Frunze (now Bishkek
) as well as occasionally accompanying the silent films at the cinema with live music.
During the Second World War, Schwartz directed one of the sections of the Red Army Choir
. During that time, he met the sister of Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich
, who introduced him to her brother. Shostakovich helped Schwartz gain entry to the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory
in Leningrad, from whence he graduated with a diploma in composition in 1951. He joined the Union of Soviet Composers
in 1955.
Schwartz's first major commission was the music for the film Our Correspondent in 1959. He went on to compose the music for more than 100 Soviet films, including White Sun of the Desert
(Белое солнце пустыни, 1969) and The Captivating Star of Happiness
(Звезда пленительного счастья, 1975). Perhaps his best known work outside of the Soviet Union was for Akira Kurosawa
's 1975 film Dersu Uzala
. He won the prestigious Nika Award
of the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences for 1992 for his music for the films White King, Red Queen
(Белый король, красная королева) and Luna Park
(Луна-парк).
Schwartz also composed musc for ballet
s and theatrical performances and, to a lesser extent, for television. His one symphony, Gelbe Sterne – Purimspiel im Ghetto, was first performed in Saint Petersburg
in 2000: it was inspired by the story of the Kovno Ghetto in Lithuania
.
Schwartz died in Siversky
, near Saint Petersburg
, Russian Federation, on 27 December 2009, aged 86.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Schwartz was born in Romny
Romny
Romny is a city in the northern Ukrainian Oblast of Sumy. It is located on the Romen River and is the administrative center of the Romny Raion...
in the Ukrainian SSR in 1923. His family moved to Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
in 1930, where he learned to play 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...
. He gave his first concert in 1935 with the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra.
Schwartz's father was professor of archeology at the Leningrad State University: he was arrested in 1936 and executed two years later as part of the Great Purge
Great Purge
The Great Purge was a series of campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin from 1936 to 1938...
. Schwartz's family was exiled to Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
in 1937, and Schwartz gave private music lessons in Frunze (now Bishkek
Bishkek
Bishkek , formerly Pishpek and Frunze, is the capital and the largest city of Kyrgyzstan.Bishkek is also the administrative centre of Chuy Province which surrounds the city, even though the city itself is not part of the province but rather a province-level unit of Kyrgyzstan.The name is thought to...
) as well as occasionally accompanying the silent films at the cinema with live music.
During the Second World War, Schwartz directed one of the sections of the Red Army Choir
Red Army Choir
The A.V. Alexandrov Russian army twice red-bannered academic song and dance ensemble , in short, the Alexandrov ensemble is a performing ensemble that serves as the official army choir of the Russian armed forces...
. During that time, he met the sister of Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
, who introduced him to her brother. Shostakovich helped Schwartz gain entry to the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory
Saint Petersburg Conservatory
The N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory is a music school in Saint Petersburg. In 2004, the conservatory had around 275 faculty members and 1,400 students.-History:...
in Leningrad, from whence he graduated with a diploma in composition in 1951. He joined the Union of Soviet Composers
Union of Soviet Composers
The USSR Union of Composers or Union of Composers of the USSR , , was a professional organisation of composers in the Soviet Union...
in 1955.
Schwartz's first major commission was the music for the film Our Correspondent in 1959. He went on to compose the music for more than 100 Soviet films, including White Sun of the Desert
White Sun of the Desert
White Sun of the Desert , a classic 'Eastern' or Ostern film of the Soviet Union.The film is one of the most popular Russian films of all time. Its blend of action, comedy, music and drama has made it wildly successful and it has since achieved the status of a cult film in Soviet and Russian...
(Белое солнце пустыни, 1969) and The Captivating Star of Happiness
The Captivating Star of Happiness
The Captivating Star of Happiness is a Soviet film. The title is an allusion to a line from a poem by Alexander Pushkin. It is a costume drama dedicated "to the women of Russia"....
(Звезда пленительного счастья, 1975). Perhaps his best known work outside of the Soviet Union was for Akira Kurosawa
Akira Kurosawa
was a Japanese film director, producer, screenwriter and editor. Regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema, Kurosawa directed 30 filmsIn 1946, Kurosawa co-directed, with Hideo Sekigawa and Kajiro Yamamoto, the feature Those Who Make Tomorrow ;...
's 1975 film Dersu Uzala
Dersu Uzala (1975 film)
Dersu Uzala is a 1975 Soviet-Japanese co-production film directed by Akira Kurosawa, his first non-Japanese-language film and his first and only 70 mm film. The film won the Grand Prix at the Moscow Film Festival and the 1975 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film...
. He won the prestigious Nika Award
Nika Award
The Nika Award is a prestigious annual ceremony held by the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences which was established in 1987 in Moscow, Russia by Yuli Gusman, and ostensibly modelled on the Academy Awards . Russian Academy Award takes its name from Nike, the goddess of victory...
of the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences for 1992 for his music for the films White King, Red Queen
White King, Red Queen
White King, Red Queen is a Russian film. The composer Isaak Schwarz won a Nika Award from the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences for the film's music....
(Белый король, красная королева) and Luna Park
Luna Park (film)
Luna Park is a Franco-Russian film. It competed in the 1992 Cannes Film Festival, was shown at the Toronto Film Festival on , and was released in New York in January 1994. The composer Isaak Schwarz won a Nika Award from the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences for the film's music...
(Луна-парк).
Schwartz also composed musc for ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
s and theatrical performances and, to a lesser extent, for television. His one symphony, Gelbe Sterne – Purimspiel im Ghetto, was first performed in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
in 2000: it was inspired by the story of the Kovno Ghetto in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
.
Schwartz died in Siversky
Siversky
Siversky is an urban locality in Gatchinsky District of Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located on the bank of the Oredezh River...
, near Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, Russian Federation, on 27 December 2009, aged 86.