Leo Sirota
Encyclopedia
Leo Sirota was a Jewish pianist
born in Kamianets-Podilskyi
, Podolskaya Guberniya, Russian Empire
, now Ukraine
.
Leo Sirota began studying piano at the age of five. By the age of nine he was already giving concerts and came to the attention of Paderewski
, who invited the boy to study with him. Sirota's parents, however, felt he was too young, and so he attended the conservatories in Kiev and, later, Saint Petersburg
. However, in 1904 he went to Vienna
to study with Ferruccio Busoni
.
He worked as rehearsal pianist with the conductor Jascha Horenstein
, whose sister he married. Sirota's Vienna debut concert must have been a memorable occasion: it comprised the Mozart
sonata for two pianos with Busoni playing the other piano, followed by the Busoni Piano Concerto, with Busoni conducting, and ended with the two piano version of the Liszt
Don Juan Fantasy.
Sirota settled in Japan in 1929, staying there for 15 years, teaching and giving recitals. He was a piano teacher of Minoru Matsuya
(1910–1995).
While he was in Japan, he championed Yamaha
pianos, against the prevailing fashion in Japan for Bechstein
and Steinway
instruments.
After the Second World War he moved to America and taught in St. Louis
. A local radio station frequently asked him to broadcast, and much of his surviving recorded output comes from the paper-based tapes which the studio gave to him after each broadcast. His repertoire was vast, including the complete works of Chopin
which he broadcast. His playing is characterised by a luminous tone and unfussy, almost fastidious interpretations, underpinned by an astonishing technique - his rendition of Rosenthal
's arrangement of Chopin's minute waltz with the right hand in thirds was said to have astounded Arthur Rubinstein
. Because his recorded legacy required specialised remastering, it is only recently that his stature as a pianist has been appreciated.
Sirota died in 1965.
His daughter is Beate Sirota Gordon.
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:...
born in Kamianets-Podilskyi
Kamianets-Podilskyi
Kamyanets-Podilsky or Kamienets-Podolsky is a city located on the Smotrych River in western Ukraine, to the north-east of Chernivtsi...
, Podolskaya Guberniya, Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, now Ukraine
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...
.
Leo Sirota began studying piano at the age of five. By the age of nine he was already giving concerts and came to the attention of Paderewski
Ignacy Jan Paderewski
Ignacy Jan Paderewski GBE was a Polish pianist, composer, diplomat, politician, and the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland.-Biography:...
, who invited the boy to study with him. Sirota's parents, however, felt he was too young, and so he attended the conservatories in Kiev and, later, 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...
. However, in 1904 he went to Vienna
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...
to study with Ferruccio Busoni
Ferruccio Busoni
Ferruccio Busoni was an Italian composer, pianist, editor, writer, piano and composition teacher, and conductor.-Biography:...
.
He worked as rehearsal pianist with the conductor Jascha Horenstein
Jascha Horenstein
Jascha Horenstein was an American conductor.Horenstein was born in Kiev, Russian Empire , into a well-to-do Jewish family; his mother came from an Austrian rabbinical family and his father was Russian....
, whose sister he married. Sirota's Vienna debut concert must have been a memorable occasion: it comprised the 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...
sonata for two pianos with Busoni playing the other piano, followed by the Busoni Piano Concerto, with Busoni conducting, and ended with the two piano version of the 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...
Don Juan Fantasy.
Sirota settled in Japan in 1929, staying there for 15 years, teaching and giving recitals. He was a piano teacher of Minoru Matsuya
Minoru Matsuya
Minoru Matsuya 松谷穣 was a Japanese jazz pianist, graduated from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. He was also known as Jo Matsuya or Yuzuru Matsuya. He lived in Kamakura....
(1910–1995).
While he was in Japan, he championed Yamaha
Yamaha (manufacturer)
is a multinational corporation and conglomerate based in Japan with a wide range of products and services, predominantly musical instruments, electronics, motorcycles and power sports equipment.-History:...
pianos, against the prevailing fashion in Japan for Bechstein
Bechstein
Bechstein is a surname and may refer to:*Johann Matthäus Bechstein , a German naturalist and forester.*Ludwig Bechstein , a German writer....
and Steinway
Steinway & Sons
Steinway & Sons, also known as Steinway , is an American and German manufacturer of handmade pianos, founded 1853 in Manhattan in New York City by German immigrant Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg...
instruments.
After the Second World War he moved to America and taught in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. A local radio station frequently asked him to broadcast, and much of his surviving recorded output comes from the paper-based tapes which the studio gave to him after each broadcast. His repertoire was vast, including the complete works of 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"....
which he broadcast. His playing is characterised by a luminous tone and unfussy, almost fastidious interpretations, underpinned by an astonishing technique - his rendition of Rosenthal
Rosenthal
Rosenthal is a name of German origin, meaning rose valley, and may refer to:* Rosenthal, Hesse, in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district* Rosenthal , a part of Berlin, Germany* Rosenthal, a part of Peine in Lower Saxony...
's arrangement of Chopin's minute waltz with the right hand in thirds was said to have astounded Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein KBE was a Polish-American pianist. He received international acclaim for his performances of the music of a variety of composers...
. Because his recorded legacy required specialised remastering, it is only recently that his stature as a pianist has been appreciated.
Sirota died in 1965.
His daughter is Beate Sirota Gordon.