Leonard Shure
Encyclopedia
Leonard Shure was an American concert pianist, and heir to the tradition of the great Artur Schnabel
, began his career as a performer at the age of 5 and as a teenager studied privately with Schnabel in Germany.
in 1927, at which time he made his debut in Germany
. He served as Schnabel's first and only assistant until 1933.
Shure returned to the United States
in 1933 and made his first concert appearance in New York
with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
, Serge Koussevitsky conducting.
He was a featured soloist, with virtually every major symphony orchestra in the United States, including the New York Philharmonic
, the Detroit, St. Louis, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras, and on numerous occasions, with the Cleveland Orchestra
under the direction of George Szell
.
In 1941 Shure became the first pianist to perform at the Berkshire Music Festival in Tanglewood
, when he appeared there with Dr. Koussevitsky and the Boston Symphony Orchestra
. In 1946 he performed the complete Beethoven sonata cycle with violinist Henri Temianka
at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.
He also performed with such eminent conductors as William Steinberg
, Leonard Bernstein
and Dimitri Mitropoulos. In 1979 Shure made a successful tour of the Soviet Union
.
Shure taught at the Cleveland Institute of Music
, the University of Texas, Boston University
, and the Mannes School of Music in New York. In the summers of 1966 and 1967, Shure gave the first applied music courses ever offered at Harvard University
. He spent two summers at the Rubin Academy in Jerusalem, and four summers in Aspen
, Colorado
. Late in life, Shure was a member of the faculty at the New England Conservatory of Music
.
Artur Schnabel
Artur Schnabel was an Austrian classical pianist, who also composed and taught. Schnabel was known for his intellectual seriousness as a musician, avoiding pure technical bravura...
, began his career as a performer at the age of 5 and as a teenager studied privately with Schnabel in Germany.
Life
Shure graduated from the Hochschule fur Musik in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1927, at which time he made his debut in Germany
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...
. He served as Schnabel's first and only assistant until 1933.
Shure returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1933 and made his first concert appearance in 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...
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...
, Serge Koussevitsky conducting.
He was a featured soloist, with virtually every major symphony orchestra in the United States, including the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
, the Detroit, St. Louis, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras, and on numerous occasions, with 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 the direction of George Szell
George Szell
George Szell , originally György Széll, György Endre Szél, or Georg Szell, was a Hungarian-born American conductor and composer...
.
In 1941 Shure became the first pianist to perform at the Berkshire Music Festival in Tanglewood
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is an estate and music venue in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. It was the venue of the Berkshire Festival.- History...
, when he appeared there with Dr. Koussevitsky and 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...
. In 1946 he performed the complete Beethoven sonata cycle with violinist Henri Temianka
Henri Temianka
Henri Temianka was a virtuoso violinist, conductor, author and music educator.-Early years:Henri Temianka was born in Scotland of Polish-Jewish parents...
at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.
He also performed with such eminent conductors as William Steinberg
William Steinberg
William Steinberg was a German-American conductor.- Biography :Steinberg was born Hans Wilhelm Steinberg in Cologne, Germany. He displayed early talent as a violinist, pianist, and composer, conducting his own choral/ orchestral composition at age 13...
, Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
and Dimitri Mitropoulos. In 1979 Shure made a successful tour of the Soviet Union
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....
.
Shure taught at the Cleveland Institute of Music
Cleveland Institute of Music
The Cleveland Institute of Music is an independent music conservatory located in the University Circle district of Cleveland, Ohio, United States and is overseen by president Joel Smirnoff and Adrian Daly, dean....
, the University of Texas, Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, and the Mannes School of Music in New York. In the summers of 1966 and 1967, Shure gave the first applied music courses ever offered at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He spent two summers at the Rubin Academy in Jerusalem, and four summers in Aspen
Aspen
Populus section Populus, of the Populus genus, includes the aspen trees and the white poplar Populus alba. The five typical aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. The White Poplar, by...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. Late in life, Shure was a member of the faculty at the New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest independent school of music in the United States.The conservatory is home each year to 750 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies along with 1400 more in its Preparatory School as well as the School of...
.
Discography
- "Leonard Shure - Beethoven", 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli CD 72001 AudioFon
- "Leonard Shure - Schubert Piano Sonatas" CD 72010 AudioFon
- "Beethoven - Emperor Concerto; Schumann - Fantasia in C" Leonard Shure (piano), Leon Fleisher (conductor), The New England Conservatory Orchestra - The Schnabel Memorial Concert CD 72018 AudioFon
- "Leonard Shure - Beethoven Piano Sonatas" CD 72005 AudioFon
- "Leonard Shure - Brahms, Schubert, Chopin" CD 72016 AudioFon
- "Beethoven 10 Sonatas for Violin & Piano," the 1946 performances with Henri TemiankaHenri TemiankaHenri Temianka was a virtuoso violinist, conductor, author and music educator.-Early years:Henri Temianka was born in Scotland of Polish-Jewish parents...
restored by DOREMI Legendary Treasures DHR-8011-3