Grant Johannesen (July 30, 1921 – March 27, 2005) was an American pianist.[1]
Grant Johannesen Credit: Olaf T. Ranum
Biographyedit
Johannesen was born in Salt Lake City and discovered at the age of five by a teacher who lived across the street. He imitated whatever he heard her play, and she did not appreciate it.
He toured extensively, both with the New York Philharmonic under Dmitri Mitropoulos, and as a solo performer. His performances in Moscow were especially well received. He was once encored 16 times.
He was known as an interpreter of French piano music and recorded the complete piano works of Gabriel Fauré.
He was a National Patron of Delta Omicron, an international professional music fraternity.[2] He was awarded an honorary doctorate of music degree from the Hartt School, University of Hartford in 1993.
Johannesen was married to the Juilliard-trained composer Helen Taylor (whose works for piano were among his recordings) from 1943 until her death in an automobile accident in 1950. He was married to his second wife, the cellist Zara Nelsova (with whom he sometimes performed), from 1963 until their divorce in 1973. From his first marriage, he had a son, David Johannesen.
He died in 2005 at the age of 83 in Germany, where he had been visiting friends. The New York Times reported that he died "near Munich" and another source said "near Garmisch in Bavaria." In their obituaries, the Salt Lake Tribune and the Associated Press, citing his lifelong friend Elisabeth von Rummelhoff, reported that he died in Berlin. The Mormon Artists Group (directed by Glen Nelson), with which he was a collaborator, also announced that he died in Berlin.
After his death, David Johannesen completed the manuscript of Grant Johannesen's autobiography, wrote its foreword, and worked together with Peter DeLafosse at the University of Utah Press to shepherd the book "Journey of an American Pianist" through its publication in 2007.
Johannesen was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[3]
^Musical Compositions by LDS Composers in NYC Collections
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grant Johannesen.
David Dubal interview with Grant Johannesen, WNCN-FM, November 19, 1982 on YouTube
David Dubal interview with Grant Johannesen, WNCN-FM, November 26, 1982 on YouTube
Martin Goldsmith interview with Grant Johannesen, May 12, 1995 on YouTube
January 01, 1970
grant, johannesen, july, 1921, march, 2005, american, pianist, credit, olaf, ranumbiography, editjohannesen, born, salt, lake, city, discovered, five, teacher, lived, across, street, imitated, whatever, heard, play, appreciate, studied, with, robert, casadesus. Grant Johannesen July 30 1921 March 27 2005 was an American pianist 1 Grant JohannesenCredit Olaf T RanumBiography editJohannesen was born in Salt Lake City and discovered at the age of five by a teacher who lived across the street He imitated whatever he heard her play and she did not appreciate it He studied with Robert Casadesus Egon Petri Roger Sessions and Nadia Boulanger He made his Manhattan recital debut when he was 23 and won the Concours International when he was 28 He toured extensively both with the New York Philharmonic under Dmitri Mitropoulos and as a solo performer His performances in Moscow were especially well received He was once encored 16 times He was known as an interpreter of French piano music and recorded the complete piano works of Gabriel Faure He served as director of the Cleveland Institute of Music from 1974 to 1985 He was a frequent soloist with both the Cleveland Orchestra and the Utah Symphony He was a National Patron of Delta Omicron an international professional music fraternity 2 He was awarded an honorary doctorate of music degree from the Hartt School University of Hartford in 1993 Johannesen was married to the Juilliard trained composer Helen Taylor whose works for piano were among his recordings from 1943 until her death in an automobile accident in 1950 He was married to his second wife the cellist Zara Nelsova with whom he sometimes performed from 1963 until their divorce in 1973 From his first marriage he had a son David Johannesen He died in 2005 at the age of 83 in Germany where he had been visiting friends The New York Times reported that he died near Munich and another source said near Garmisch in Bavaria In their obituaries the Salt Lake Tribune and the Associated Press citing his lifelong friend Elisabeth von Rummelhoff reported that he died in Berlin The Mormon Artists Group directed by Glen Nelson with which he was a collaborator also announced that he died in Berlin After his death David Johannesen completed the manuscript of Grant Johannesen s autobiography wrote its foreword and worked together with Peter DeLafosse at the University of Utah Press to shepherd the book Journey of an American Pianist through its publication in 2007 Johannesen was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints 3 References edit Grant Johannesen Obituaries News The Independent 2005 04 30 Retrieved 2013 02 24 dead link Delta Omicron Archived 2010 01 27 at the Wayback Machine Musical Compositions by LDS Composers in NYC CollectionsExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grant Johannesen David Dubal interview with Grant Johannesen WNCN FM November 19 1982 on YouTube David Dubal interview with Grant Johannesen WNCN FM November 26 1982 on YouTube Martin Goldsmith interview with Grant Johannesen May 12 1995 on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grant Johannesen amp oldid 1217845925, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
