Jorge Bolet
Encyclopedia
Jorge Bolet was a Cuba
n-born but mostly American-resident pianist
and teacher.
, and studied at the Curtis Institute of Music
in Philadelphia, where he himself taught from 1939 to 1942. His teachers included Leopold Godowsky
, Josef Hofmann, David Saperton
, Moriz Rosenthal
and Fritz Reiner
.
In 1937, he won the Naumburg Competition
, and gave his debut recital. In 1942 Bolet joined the US Army. He was sent to Japan
as part of the Army of Occupation. While there, he conducted the Japanese premiere of The Mikado
. He made his first recordings for Remington.
In 1960 Bolet provided the piano soundtrack for a film about Franz Liszt
, Song Without End
. His playing, though, was condemned by American critics for decades, as being too focused on romantic virtuosity, so his recordings in the 1960s were confined to fairly small and hard-to-find labels. Only in 1974 did he come to national prominence, with a stupendous recital in that year at Carnegie Hall, which sealed his reputation.
Later Bolet became Head of Piano at the Curtis Institute, succeeding Rudolf Serkin
, but he resigned from this to concentrate once again on his performing career. A measure of Bolet's stature can be given by the fact that the dean of American music critics, Harold C. Schonberg
, considered him "a kind of latter-day Josef Lhévinne
".
In 1984, the A&E Network
broadcast a series of three programs entitled Bolet Meets Rachmaninoff
, in which the pianist was shown giving masterclasses on the subject of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3
. These masterclasses were followed on the series by a complete performance of Bolet playing the concerto.
The Decca/London record company put him under contract in 1978, giving the 64-year-old Bolet his first systematic exposure to life at a major international label. Recordings of key sections of his repertoire were made from 1978 up to his death, but there are also tapes of many live concerts from this time, which were never commercially released but can be found in archives, principally the International Piano Archive at Maryland. Such performances include a specialty of his, Leopold Godowsky's "Concert Paraphrase on Themes from Johann Strauss
's Die Fledermaus
", which he studied with Godowsky during his student years.
Bolet's health began to decline in 1988, and in 1989 he underwent a brain operation from which he never fully recovered. It was reported in the media that he died from heart failure in October 1990, at his home in Mountain View, California. However, Gregor Benko
states that Bolet in fact died of complications from AIDS
.
, particularly works by Franz Liszt
, César Franck
, and Frédéric Chopin
. He also specialised in piano transcriptions and unusual repertoire, including the fiendishly difficult works of Godowsky, many of which Bolet had studied with the composer himself. In an interview given to Elyse Mach (Great Contemporary Pianists Speak for Themselves, Dover Books on Music), Bolet extensively mentioned an obscure piece by Joseph Marx
which was, according to Bolet's own words, his favorite among virtuoso concertos because of the enormous show of strength required from the soloist.
Some of the most celebrated, near the end of his career, were made with Charles Dutoit
and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
. Most pianophiles agree that the most perfect piano sound and tone (through masterful piano technical preparation) was the last Decca/London solo piano recording of Claude Debussy
.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n-born but mostly American-resident 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:...
and teacher.
Life
Bolet was born in HavanaHavana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, and studied 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, where he himself taught from 1939 to 1942. His teachers included Leopold Godowsky
Leopold Godowsky
Leopold Godowsky was a famed Polish American pianist, composer, and teacher. One of the most highly regarded performers of his time, he became known for his theories concerning the application of relaxed weight and economy of motion in piano playing, principles later propagated by Godowsky's...
, Josef Hofmann, David Saperton
David Saperton
David Saperton was an American pianist known especially for being the first pianist to play the entire original compositions as well as the complete transcriptions of his father-in-law, Leopold Godowsky. He also recorded a number of Godowsky’s Studies on Chopin's Études as well as other pieces...
, Moriz Rosenthal
Moriz Rosenthal
Moriz Rosenthal was a great Polish pianist. He was an outstanding pupil of Franz Liszt and a friend and colleague of some of the greatest musicians of his age, including Johannes Brahms, Johann Strauss, Anton Rubinstein, Hans von Bülow, Camille Saint-Saëns, Jules Massenet and Isaac...
and Fritz Reiner
Fritz Reiner
Frederick Martin “Fritz” Reiner was a prominent conductor of opera and symphonic music in the twentieth century.-Biography:...
.
In 1937, he won the Naumburg Competition
Walter W. Naumburg Foundation
The Walter W. Naumburg Foundation sponsors competitions and provides awards for young classical musicians in North America. It was founded in 1925 by Walter Wehle Naumburg, a wealthy amateur cellist and son of noted New York music patron and philanthropist Elkan Naumburg. Elkan Naumburg, owner of...
, and gave his debut recital. In 1942 Bolet joined the US Army. He was sent to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as part of the Army of Occupation. While there, he conducted the Japanese premiere of The Mikado
The Mikado
The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen operatic collaborations...
. He made his first recordings for Remington.
In 1960 Bolet provided the piano soundtrack for a film about Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
, Song Without End
Song Without End
Song Without End, subtitled The Story of Franz Liszt is a biographical film romance made by Columbia Pictures. It was directed by Charles Vidor, who died during the shooting of the picture and was replaced by George Cukor. It was produced by William Goetz from a screenplay by Oscar Millard,...
. His playing, though, was condemned by American critics for decades, as being too focused on romantic virtuosity, so his recordings in the 1960s were confined to fairly small and hard-to-find labels. Only in 1974 did he come to national prominence, with a stupendous recital in that year at Carnegie Hall, which sealed his reputation.
Later Bolet became Head of Piano at the Curtis Institute, succeeding Rudolf Serkin
Rudolf Serkin
Rudolf Serkin , was a Bohemian-born pianist.-Life and early career:Serkin was born in Eger, Bohemia, Austro-Hungarian Empire to a Russian-Jewish family....
, but he resigned from this to concentrate once again on his performing career. A measure of Bolet's stature can be given by the fact that the dean of American music critics, Harold C. Schonberg
Harold C. Schonberg
Harold Charles Schonberg was an American music critic and journalist, most notably for The New York Times. He was the first music critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism...
, considered him "a kind of latter-day Josef Lhévinne
Josef Lhévinne
Josef Lhévinne was a Russian pianist and piano teacher.Joseph Arkadievich Levin was born into a family of musicians in Oryol and studied at the Imperial Conservatory in Moscow under Vasily Safonov...
".
In 1984, the A&E Network
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
broadcast a series of three programs entitled Bolet Meets Rachmaninoff
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music...
, in which the pianist was shown giving masterclasses on the subject of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3
Piano Concerto No. 3 (Rachmaninoff)
The Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30, composed in 1909 by Sergei Rachmaninoff is famous for its technical and musical demands on the performer...
. These masterclasses were followed on the series by a complete performance of Bolet playing the concerto.
The Decca/London record company put him under contract in 1978, giving the 64-year-old Bolet his first systematic exposure to life at a major international label. Recordings of key sections of his repertoire were made from 1978 up to his death, but there are also tapes of many live concerts from this time, which were never commercially released but can be found in archives, principally the International Piano Archive at Maryland. Such performances include a specialty of his, Leopold Godowsky's "Concert Paraphrase on Themes from Johann Strauss
Johann Strauss II
Johann Strauss II , also known as Johann Baptist Strauss or Johann Strauss, Jr., the Younger, or the Son , was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas...
's Die Fledermaus
Die Fledermaus
Die Fledermaus is an operetta composed by Johann Strauss II to a German libretto by Karl Haffner and Richard Genée.- Literary sources :...
", which he studied with Godowsky during his student years.
Bolet's health began to decline in 1988, and in 1989 he underwent a brain operation from which he never fully recovered. It was reported in the media that he died from heart failure in October 1990, at his home in Mountain View, California. However, Gregor Benko
Gregor Benko
Gregor Benko is an American writer, lecturer, record producer, and collector-historian whose primary focus is classical piano performance documented on recordings from the Romantic Era...
states that Bolet in fact died of complications from AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
.
Recordings
Bolet is particularly well remembered for his performances and recordings of large-scale Romantic musicRomantic music
Romantic music or music in the Romantic Period is a musicological and artistic term referring to a particular period, theory, compositional practice, and canon in Western music history, from 1810 to 1900....
, particularly works by Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
, César Franck
César Franck
César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck was a composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher who worked in Paris during his adult life....
, and Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music and has been called "the poet of the piano"....
. He also specialised in piano transcriptions and unusual repertoire, including the fiendishly difficult works of Godowsky, many of which Bolet had studied with the composer himself. In an interview given to Elyse Mach (Great Contemporary Pianists Speak for Themselves, Dover Books on Music), Bolet extensively mentioned an obscure piece by 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...
which was, according to Bolet's own words, his favorite among virtuoso concertos because of the enormous show of strength required from the soloist.
- Bach, J.S., PIANO VIRTUOSOS—CZIFFRA, MOISEIWITSCH, & BOLET, Georges Cziffra, Benno Moiseiwitsch, & Jorge Bolet, Philharmonia Orchestra, Charles Groves, Medici Arts 1333 DVD
- Chopin, Four Ballades, Opp. 23, 38, 47, 52; Barcarolle Op. 60; Fantaisie Op. 49. London 417 651-2. [Recorded in Walthamstow Assembly Hall, 9/1986.]
- Chopin, 24 Preludes Op. 28; Ballade No. 2 in F major Op. 28; Ballade No. 4 in F minor Op. 52; Fantasie in F minor Op. 49. Eloquence 458 172-2 CD. [Ballades and Fantasie the same as above; Preludes recorded in 6/1987. Also issued on DECCA Eclipse.]
- Chopin, 24 Preludes Op. 28; Nocturnes Op. 27 Nos. 1&2, Op. 55 No. 1 and Op. 62 No. 2. London 421 363-2. [Recorded in St Barnabas' Church, London, 6/1987; piano: Baldwin].
- Chopin, Piano Concertors Nos. 1 and 2. Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, Charles Dutoit. London 425 859-2. [Recorded in St Eustache, Montreal, 5/1989.]
- Chopin, Jorge Bolet In Concert Vol 1 - Chopin Andante Spianato e Grande Polonaise Op. 22; Barcarolle Op. 60; Impromptus 1, 2, & 4; Four Scherzos; Polonaises Op. 26; Nocturnes Op. 9 No. 3, Op. 15 No. 2, Op. 27 No. 2, & Op. 55 No. 1; Sonata No. 3 in B minor Op. 58; Chant Polonaise Op. 74 No. 12 "My Joys" (arr. Liszt); Waltz No. 14 in E minor Op. Posth., Jorge Bolet, Marston 52035-2 CD
- Debussy, Claude, Preludes Books 1 & 2 (selections), Jorge Bolet, Decca 425 518 2 CD
- Grieg, Edvard, Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 16, Jorge Bolet, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly, Decca 417 112 2 CD [Recorded in May 1985]
- Liszt, Études D’Exécution Transcendante, Ensayo 9711 CD. [Recorded in Barcelona, 1970.]
- Liszt, Bolet reDiscovered, RCA Red Seal: Liebestraum No. 3; Gnomenreigen; Un Sospiro; Funerailles; La Campanella; Waldesrauschen; Grand Galop chromatique; Rhapsodie Espagnole; Tannhäuser Overture. [Recorded in RCA Studio A, 1972-73; all pieces but the last two later re-recorded for DECCA.]
- Liszt, GREAT PIANISTS OF THE 20TH CENTURY VOLUME 11: JORGE BOLET II, Mephisto Waltz No. 1; Venezia e Napoli; Funérailles; Liebestraum No. 3; La Leggierezza; La Campanella; Sonetto 104 del Petrarca; Harmonies du soir; Gnomenreignen; Au bord d'une source; Consolation No. 3; Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12; Ricordanza; Réminiscences de Norma (Live), Jorge Bolet, Philips 456 814-2 CD [Recorded in 1978-88 for DECCA]
- Liszt, Paraphrases, Ensayo CD-9742 [Recorded in 1969]. Schubert, Die Forelle and Ständchen von Shakespeare; Chopin, Meine Freuden and Mädchens Wunsch; Schumann, Widmung and Frühlingsnacht; Liszt, Liebestraum No. 3; Donizetti, Reminiscences de Lucia di Lammermoor [see Great Pianists, Vol. 10]; Wagner, Spinner-Lied from Der fliegended Holländer; Verdi, Rigoletto Paraphrase.
- Liszt, Piano Works Vol. 1, Decca 410 257-2 CD: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12, Liebestraum No. 3; Mephisto Waltz No. 1; Funerailles; Rigoletto - Concert Paraphrase; La Campanella. [Recorded in Kingsway Hall, London, 2&9/1982; piano: Bechstein].
- Liszt, Piano Works Vol. 2, Decca 410 575-2 CD: Schubert Song Transcriptions: Die Forelle; Der Müller und der Bach; Wohin?; Lebe wohl!; Das Wandern; Der Lindenbaum; Horch, horch, die Lerch; Auf dem Wasser zu singen; Die Post; Aufenthalt; Lob der Tränen; Erlkönig. [Recorded in Kingsway Hall, London, 11/1981; piano: Baldwin].
- Liszt, Piano Works Vol. 3, Decca 410 115-2 CD: Sonata in B minor; Valse Impromptu; Liebesträume Nos. 1-3; Grand galop chromatique. [Recorded in Kingsway Hall, London, 9/1982; piano: Bechstein].
- Liszt, Piano Works Vol. 4, Decca 410 162-2 CD: Annees de Pelerinage: Deuxieme Annee: Italie (complete, 7 pieces: Sposalizio, Il Penseroso, Canzonetta del Salvator Rosa, Sonetti 47, 104, 123 del Petrarca, Dante Sonata). [Recorded in Kingsway Hall, London, 9&12/1982; piano: Bechstein].
- Liszt, Piano Works Vol. 5, Decca 410 160-2 CD: Annees de Pelerinage: Premiere Annee: Suisse (complete, 9 pieces: Chapelle de Guillaume Tell, Au lac de Wallenstadt, Pastorale, Orage, Vallee d'Obermann, Eglogue, Le mal du pays, Le cloches de Geneve). [Recorded in Kingsway Hall, London, 3/1983; piano: Bechstein].
- Liszt, Piano Works Vol. 6, Decca 410 803-2 CD: Venezia e Napoli (3 pieces: Gondoliera, Canzone, Tarantella); Les jeux d'eau a la Villa d'Este; Benediction de Dieu dans la solitude; Ballade No. 2. [Recorded in Kingsway Hall, London, 10/1983; piano: Bechstein].
- Liszt, Piano Works Vol. VII, London 414 601-2 CD: Transcendental Studies, S. 161 (complete): Preludio; Molto vivace; Paysage; Mazeppa; Feux follets; Vision; Eroica; Wilde Jagd; Ricordanza; Allegro agitato molto; Harmonies du Soir; Chasse-neige. [Recorded in St Barnabas' Church, London, 3/1985; piano: Bechstein].
- Liszt, Concert Studies, S144 and S145; Consolations S172 [all cycles complete, 11 pieces altogether]; Reminiscences de Don Juan, S418. DECCA 417 523-2 CD. [Recorded in Kingsway Hall, London, 12/1978; except for the Consolations: recorded in St Barnabas' Church, London, 3/1985.]
- Liszt, Totentanz S126; Malediction S121; Hungarian Fantasy S123. London Symphony, Ivan Fischer. DECCA 417 079-2 CD. [Recorded in Walthamstow Assembly Hall, London, 3/1984; piano: Bechstein.]
- Liszt, Piano Works, DECCA 467 801-2 9CD. London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Iván Fischer, Georg Solti. All nine Liszt CDs from above plus Liszt's orchestration of Schubert's Wanderer Fantasie (with LPO and Solti).
- Liszt, Favourite Piano Works, Double DECCA 444 851-2 CD. Fine selection from the DECCA years. TT 139,51 minutes. Includes the Sonata in B minor, Reminiscences de Don Juan, Erlkönig, and many others.
- Liszt, Various works, Jorge Bolet RCA 63748-2 CD
- Rachmaninoff, Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor Op. 30 [Recorded Live, 1969; Indiana University Symphony Orchestra]; Liszt, Die Forelle (Schubert); Des mädchens Wunsch (Chopin); Widmung (Schumann); Réminiscences de Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti); Spinnelied aus Der fliegende Holländer (Wagner); Rigoletto Paraphrase (Verdi) [Recorded in studio, 1969]. Palexa 0503 CD. Conductor not stated on the CD.
- Rachmaninoff, Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor Op. 30. London Symphony, Ivan Fischer. London 414 671-2. [Recorded in Kingsway Hall, London, 9/1982; piano: Bechstein.]
- Rachmaninoff, Variations on a Theme of Corelli Op. 22; Preludes Op. 3 No. 2, Op. 23 Nos. 5 and 10, Op. 32 Nos. 7 and 12; Melodie Op. 3 No. 3; Liebesleid and Liebesfreud. London 412 061-2. [Recorded in St Barnabas' Church, London, 1/1986 (Variations) and in Walthamstow Assembly Hall, London, 1/1987 (the rest); piano: Bechstein.]
- Schumann, Robert, Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 54, Jorge Bolet, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly, Decca 417 112 2 CD
- Liszt, Franz, Bolet Rediscovered: Liszt Recital, Jorge Bolet, RCA 63748, 04/03/2001
- J Brahms; R Schumann: Klaus Tennstedt Jorge Bolet, London Philharmonic Orchestra; Klaus Tennstedt, BBC Legends, BBCL42512
- GREAT PIANISTS OF THE 20TH CENTURY VOLUME 10: JORGE BOLET I.
- Live in Carnegie Hall (25/2/1974): Bach-Busoni, Chaconne; Chopin, 24 Preludes; Strauss-Tausig, Man lebt nur eimanl and Nachtfalter; Schulz-Evler, Arabesques on The Blue Danube; Wagner-Liszt, Tannhäuser Overture; Moszkowski, La Jongleuse; Rubinstein, Staccato Etude.
- Rachmaninoff's Transcriptions and Paraphrases (7/1973, RCA Studios, New York): Rimsky-Korsakov, The Flight of the Bumble-bee; Kreisler, Liebesleid and Liebesfreud; Mendelssohn, Scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream; Bach, Prelude (from Violin Partita No. 3); Mussorgsky, Hopak; Behr, Polka de W.R.; Tchaikovsky, Lullaby Op. 16 No. 1; Bizet, Menuet from L'Arlesienne.
- Liszt-Donizzeti, Reminiscences de Lucia de Lammermoor, 'rec. date unknown' stated, but this is the 1969 recording made for Ensayo.
Instruments
Throughout his career, Bolet bucked the system by endorsing and performing on Baldwin and C. Bechstein pianos worldwide. When other pianists aligned with the Steinway piano, he chose a different approach and a unique broadly varied tone through non-standard instruments. It is common knowledge that Bolet's best Decca/London recordings were made using the Baldwin SD-10 concert grand.Some of the most celebrated, near the end of his career, were made with Charles Dutoit
Charles Dutoit
Charles Édouard Dutoit, is a Swiss conductor, particularly noted for his interpretations of French and Russian 20th century music...
and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is a symphony orchestra based in Montréal, Québec, Canada, with Montréal's Place des Arts as its home.-History:...
. Most pianophiles agree that the most perfect piano sound and tone (through masterful piano technical preparation) was the last Decca/London solo piano recording of Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
.