In addition, Smallens worked briefly on Broadway, conducting the premieres of Thomson'sFour Saints in Three Acts in 1934 and Gershwin'sPorgy and Bess the next year. (Both works were operas, not the musicals normally expected in Broadway theatres.) Smallens also conducted the Porgy and Bess revivals on Broadway in 1942 and 1953, as well as the famous 1952 world tour of the work, which culminated in that 1953 Broadway production.
Smallens also conducted orchestras for music as part of several documentary films in the late 1930s and early 1940s. He retired from music in 1958 and moved to Sicily. In 1972, Smallens died in Tucson, Arizona and is buried there.
Personal lifeedit
In 1924, Smallens was involved in an affair with composer Marc Blitzstein during a trip the two took in Europe; this was the latter's first relationship.[6][7] In 1935, he married Ruth White Wertheim, former wife of Maurice Wertheim.[8] She died in 1959. Smallens had one son, Alexander Smallens Jr.,[9] who worked in radio (WABC-FM),[10] and two grandchildren.[9]
Discographyedit
Mendelssohn – The Stadium Orchestra of New York – World Record Club (# W6404-MX101296, W6405-MX101297) as Orchestra Conductor (1957)[11]
Highlights From Porgy and Bess – RCA Victor Red Seal (# C-25) as Orchestral Conductor
Porgy & Bess – Audite (#23.405) as Orchestra Conductor (1952)
Selections from Porgy & Bess – Decca (#DL 8042) as Orchestra Conductor
Toreador Song & Habanera from Carmen – V Disc (#208A, #208B) As Orchestra Conductor (1944)
alexander, smallens, january, 1889, november, 1972, russian, born, american, conductor, music, director, bornjanuary, 1889saint, petersburg, russian, empirediednovember, 1972, aged, tucson, arizona, united, statesoccupation, conductor, music, directorspouserut. Alexander Smallens January 1 1889 November 24 1972 was a Russian born American conductor and music director 1 Alexander SmallensBornJanuary 1 1889Saint Petersburg Russian EmpireDiedNovember 24 1972 aged 83 Tucson Arizona United StatesOccupation s Conductor and music directorSpouseRuth White WertheimChildren1 Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life 3 Discography 4 References 5 External linksBiography editSmallens was born in Saint Petersburg Russia and emigrated to the United States as a child becoming an American citizen in 1919 He studied at the New York Institute of Musical Art until 1909 when he traveled to France to study at the Conservatoire de Paris 2 3 4 5 Returning to the United States Smallens was a conductor or music director at several American music organizations including the Boston Opera Company 1911 1914 the Anna Pavlova Ballet Company 1917 1919 the Chicago Opera Company 1919 1923 the Philadelphia Civic Opera Company 1924 1930 the Philadelphia Orchestra 1928 1934 and the Radio City Music Hall 1947 1950 In addition Smallens worked briefly on Broadway conducting the premieres of Thomson s Four Saints in Three Acts in 1934 and Gershwin s Porgy and Bess the next year Both works were operas not the musicals normally expected in Broadway theatres Smallens also conducted the Porgy and Bess revivals on Broadway in 1942 and 1953 as well as the famous 1952 world tour of the work which culminated in that 1953 Broadway production Smallens also conducted orchestras for music as part of several documentary films in the late 1930s and early 1940s He retired from music in 1958 and moved to Sicily In 1972 Smallens died in Tucson Arizona and is buried there Personal life editIn 1924 Smallens was involved in an affair with composer Marc Blitzstein during a trip the two took in Europe this was the latter s first relationship 6 7 In 1935 he married Ruth White Wertheim former wife of Maurice Wertheim 8 She died in 1959 Smallens had one son Alexander Smallens Jr 9 who worked in radio WABC FM 10 and two grandchildren 9 Discography editMendelssohn The Stadium Orchestra of New York World Record Club W6404 MX101296 W6405 MX101297 as Orchestra Conductor 1957 11 Highlights From Porgy and Bess RCA Victor Red Seal C 25 as Orchestral Conductor Porgy amp Bess Audite 23 405 as Orchestra Conductor 1952 Selections from Porgy amp Bess Decca DL 8042 as Orchestra Conductor Toreador Song amp Habanera from Carmen V Disc 208A 208B As Orchestra Conductor 1944 Porgy amp Bess Decca BME 9299 as Orchestra Conductor 1956 Sempre Libera RCA Victor Red Seal 14184 as Orchestra Conductor Charpentier Massenet RCA Victor Red Seal 14153 as Orchestra ConductorReferences edit Alexander Smallens Dies Symphony Conductor 83 The New York Times November 25 1972 Alexander Smallens www nndb com Alexander Smallens IMDb Alexander Smallens Biography amp History AllMusic The New Yorker Conductor Alexander Smallens Cooke Charles 30 June 1934 p 10 Encyclopedia of American Jewish history volume 2 ABC CLIO 2007 p 691 Shewey Don July 16 1989 Moonlight and Marxism The New York Times Book Review Mrs R W Wertheim Wed To Smallens Her Divorce From Banker Is Revealed in News of Bridal Ceremony in Reno The New York Times May 17 1935 a b Alexander Smallens Dies Symphony Conductor 83 The New York Times November 25 1972 Faggen Gil August 10 1963 Gotham Listeners Get Classics in Stereo Billboard p 18 Alexander Smallens Discogs External links editAlexander Smallens at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp Alexander Smallens at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexander Smallens amp oldid 1208525765, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
