Sergey Tarnowsky
Encyclopedia
Sergei Tarnowsky (1882–1976) was a Russian pianist.
Sergei Tarnowsky was born in Kiev
. His mother was a singer who had studied in Italy, and his father was a jurist. Visiting musicians often visited the family home and Sergei showed an interest in the piano at an early age. At the age of eight he studied privately with Henryk Bobinski, a graduate of the Warsaw Conservatory
. At age 19 he commenced studies with Anna Yesipova
at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. The director of the Conservatory was Alexander Glazunov
, whose stepdaughter Tarnowsky later married. On graduation, Tarnowsky received a gold medal and the Anton Rubinstein
Prize.
He went to teach at Odessa
, where he appeared as soloist under Vasily Safonov. Safonov was so impressed that he arranged for Tarnowsky to appear with the Berlin Philharmonic in a program of three works for piano and orchestra - concertos by Tchaikovsky
and Rachmaninoff
, and a Fantasy by Arensky
. He then toured other European cities.
In Rome
he performed Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 1
, after which he was congratulated by Cosima Wagner
, who was in the audience.
In between concert tours, Tarnowsky worked at the Mariinsky Theatre
with Albert Coates
. He then become piano professor at the Kiev Conservatory
, where he taught Vladimir Horowitz
and was his only teacher from the years 1914 to 1919 (Horowitz was 11 years old when he first entered Tarnowsky's class and 16 when he left to study with Felix Blumenfeld
). His other students at Kiev included Alexander Uninsky
, Vladimir Yampolsky
and Anatole Kitain
. Tarnowsky married Glazunov's stepdaughter in 1928 and they moved to Paris
. They emigrated to the United States in 1930. In 1933 he joined the De Paul University School of Music in Chicago
and appeared in concert with artists such as Nathan Milstein
, William Primrose
, Raya Garbousova
and Maria Kurenko. He recorded an album of Tchaikovsky songs with Kurenko.
He married one of his pupils, Maxine Matlavish, and they settled in California, where from the 1940s until his death he was one of the most sought-after piano teachers. Among the many pianists he taught during his years in Southern California is the Cuban virtuoso Horacio Gutiérrez
, who Tarnowsky claimed was the biggest pianistic talent he had encountered since Vladimir Horowitz.
Sergei Tarnowsky was born in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
. His mother was a singer who had studied in Italy, and his father was a jurist. Visiting musicians often visited the family home and Sergei showed an interest in the piano at an early age. At the age of eight he studied privately with Henryk Bobinski, a graduate of the Warsaw Conservatory
Fryderyk Chopin Music Academy
The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw is located at ulica Okólnik 2 in central Warsaw, Poland...
. At age 19 he commenced studies with Anna Yesipova
Anna Yesipova
Anna Yesipova was a prominent Russian pianist. Her name is cited variously as Anna Esipova; Anna or Annette Essipova; Anna, Annette or Annetta Essipoff; Annette von Essipow; Anna Jessipowa.Yesipova was one of Teodor Leszetycki's most brilliant pupils...
at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. The director of the Conservatory was Alexander Glazunov
Alexander Glazunov
Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov was a Russian composer of the late Russian Romantic period, music teacher and conductor...
, whose stepdaughter Tarnowsky later married. On graduation, Tarnowsky received a gold medal and the Anton Rubinstein
Anton Rubinstein
Anton Grigorevich Rubinstein was a Russian-Jewish pianist, composer and conductor. As a pianist he was regarded as a rival of Franz Liszt, and he ranks amongst the great keyboard virtuosos...
Prize.
He went to teach at Odessa
Odessa
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,...
, where he appeared as soloist under Vasily Safonov. Safonov was so impressed that he arranged for Tarnowsky to appear with the Berlin Philharmonic in a program of three works for piano and orchestra - concertos by 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"...
and 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...
, and a Fantasy by Arensky
Anton Arensky
Anton Stepanovich Arensky -Biography:Arensky was born in Novgorod, Russia. He was musically precocious and had composed a number of songs and piano pieces by the age of nine...
. He then toured other European cities.
In Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
he performed Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 1
Piano Concerto No. 1 (Rachmaninoff)
Sergei Rachmaninoff composed his Piano Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 1, in 1892, at age 19. He dedicated the work to Alexander Siloti. He revised the work thoroughly in 1917.-First version:...
, after which he was congratulated by Cosima Wagner
Cosima Wagner
Cosima Francesca Gaetana Wagner, née de Flavigny, from 1844 known as Cosima Liszt; was the daughter of Hungarian composer Franz Liszt...
, who was in the audience.
In between concert tours, Tarnowsky worked at the Mariinsky Theatre
Mariinsky Theatre
The Mariinsky Theatre is a historic theatre of opera and ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music theatre of late 19th century Russia, where many of the stage masterpieces of Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov received their premieres. The...
with Albert Coates
Albert Coates (musician)
Albert Coates was an English conductor and composer. Born in Saint Petersburg where his English father was a successful businessman, he studied in Russia, England and Germany, before beginning his career as a conductor in a series of German opera houses...
. He then become piano professor at the Kiev Conservatory
Kiev Conservatory
The Tchaikovsky National Academy of Music is a Ukrainian state institution of higher music education. Its courses include postgraduate education.-History:...
, where he taught Vladimir Horowitz
Vladimir Horowitz
Vladimir Samoylovich Horowitz was a Russian-American classical virtuoso pianist and minor composer. His technique and use of tone color and the excitement of his playing were legendary. He is widely considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.-Life and early...
and was his only teacher from the years 1914 to 1919 (Horowitz was 11 years old when he first entered Tarnowsky's class and 16 when he left to study with Felix Blumenfeld
Felix Blumenfeld
Felix Mikhailovich Blumenfeld was a Russian composer, conductor, pianist and teacher.He was born in Kovalevka, Kherson Governorate, Russian Empire , the son of Austrian Mikhail Frantsevich Blumenfeld and the Polish Marie Szymanowska, and studied composition at the St...
). His other students at Kiev included Alexander Uninsky
Alexander Uninsky
-Life and career:Alexander Uninsky was born in Kiev . He initially studied piano there in the conservatory which had been opened in 1913, and whose other graduates included Vladimir Horowitz and Alexander Brailowsky....
, Vladimir Yampolsky
Vladimir Yampolsky
Vladimir Yampolsky was a Russian pianist who served as David Oistrakh's accompanist in several recordings.- External Links :*...
and Anatole Kitain
Anatole Kitain
- Early life :Anatole Kitain was born in Saint Petersburg into a family of professional musicians. His brothers, Robert and Boris, were violinists, and his brother Alexander was a pianist. He showed early promise, performing his own nocturne for the astonished Glazunov at the age of six...
. Tarnowsky married Glazunov's stepdaughter in 1928 and they moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. They emigrated to the United States in 1930. In 1933 he joined the De Paul University School of Music in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and appeared in concert with artists such as Nathan Milstein
Nathan Milstein
Nathan Mironovich Milstein was a Russian-born American virtuoso violinist.Widely considered one of the finest violinists of the 20th century, Milstein was known for his interpretations of Bach's solo violin works and for works from the Romantic period...
, William Primrose
William Primrose
William Primrose CBE was a Scottish violist and teacher.-Biography:Primrose was born in Glasgow and studied violin initially. In 1919 he moved to study at the then Guildhall School of Music in London. On the urging of the accompanist Ivor Newton, Primrose moved to Belgium to study under Eugène...
, Raya Garbousova
Raya Garbousova
Raya Garbousova was a cellist and teacher.-Early life & career:According to the biography contained in the program booklet for the 1997 memorial concert in her honor in DeKalb, Illinois, she made her formal debut in Moscow in 1923 and left the Soviet Union in 1925. She lived and performed in...
and Maria Kurenko. He recorded an album of Tchaikovsky songs with Kurenko.
He married one of his pupils, Maxine Matlavish, and they settled in California, where from the 1940s until his death he was one of the most sought-after piano teachers. Among the many pianists he taught during his years in Southern California is the Cuban virtuoso Horacio Gutiérrez
Horacio Gutiérrez
Horacio Gutiérrez is a Cuban-American virtuoso classical pianist.-Early life and education:Gutiérrez was born in Havana, Cuba, the eldest of four children, to Tomás V. Gutiérrez and Josefina Fernandez Gutiérrez. His mother was his first piano teacher, and was herself, an accomplished pianist. His...
, who Tarnowsky claimed was the biggest pianistic talent he had encountered since Vladimir Horowitz.