Abbey Simon

An enduring designer, Abbey Simon has enjoyed an extended profession as both concert pianist and instructor; although much less well-known by everyone than more broadly publicized performers, he offers made a solid displaying on recordings, specifically for the Vox label. He offers specialized in functions from the Passionate and early twentieth-century intervals, notably those by Chopin, Schumann, Rachmaninov, and Ravel. Furthermore to a dynamic performing profession, Simon offers distinguished himself like a pedagogue at many institutions and may be the founder of the prestigious worldwide piano competition. After personal research, Simon was granted a scholarship towards the Curtis Institute from the famous pianist Josef Hofmann; he qualified right now there from 1932 to 1940. Among his educators had been David Saperton (son-in-law of another famous pianist Leopold Godowsky), Harold Bauer (an Englishman rooted in the Intimate tradition, but contemporary in his method of questing following the essence from the imprinted rating), and Dora Zaslavsky. In 1940, he earned the Walter W. Naumburg Basis Honor, an honor that resulted in his NY recital debut at City Hall. Simon performed many Carnegie Hall recitals before commencing his first Western tour in 1949. There, as he himself place it, he “discovered himself” and initiated the procedure of refining his personal method of the functions he performed. Following tours had taken him to numerous elements of the globe, including South Africa, SOUTH USA, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the center East. A number of honors implemented, included in this the Country wide Orchestral Prize, the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Prize, as well as the Harriet Cohen Medal. Critics had been approving of his virtuosity and conscientious musicianship. THE BRAND NEW York press consistently offered such responses as “Phenomenal! Control of near miraculous purchase” and “Among the finest, most hypnotic virtuoso methods of your day.” Since 1960, Simon provides held many academic content and provides proven himself a highly effective and delicate instructor. From 1960 to 1974, he was a faculty member at Indiana School and, since 1977, he provides held dual positions at Juilliard College of Music with the School of Houston where he’s a Cullen Recognized Professor on the University’s Moores College of Music. Simon set up the International Piano Celebration at the institution, an event that provides recitals by prominent pianists, including Simon himself, professional classes, and discussion lunches. Simon’s shows reflect to a significant degree the total amount between drive and clarity discovered under Harold Bauer. While his is normally a large, virtuosic technique, a thoughtful aspect keeps in balance any impulse toward surplus or bombast. Researching Simon’s all-Chopin Carnegie Hall recital in 1999, critic Allan Kozinn observed that the function offered as a reminder that “gleam coolly rational aspect to his pianism.” A thorough discography, including such brands as EMI, Philips, Turnabout, and specifically Vox, provides held Simon’s name before those of the general public who might not possess noticed him in concert. The entire piano functions of Ravel, comprehensive recordings of functions for piano and orchestra by Chopin and Rachmaninov, aswell as numerous single functions by Schumann and Chopin can be found beside various other miscellaneous functions by Saint-Saëns, Brahms, and Paganini.