Nicolai Tikhonovich Berezowsky (May 17, 1900 – August 27, 1953) was a Russian-born American violinist and composer.
He was born in St. Petersburg, Russia on May 17, 1900, graduating from the Imperial Capella with honors when he was sixteen. As a young boy singer in the chapel choir, he performed for the Tsar's family and Rasputin. In the book Duet with Nicky,[full citation needed] he recalled how the choirboys would tear pages from their hymnals to make spit-balls which they would aim at Rasputin. He later served as musical director of the School of Modern Art in Moscow and as first violinist at the Moscow Grand Opera. In 1922, he made a harrowing escape from the Soviet Union in disguise, only to be arrested in Poland, but was released by an official who remembered hearing him play. Once settled in New York, Berezowsky attended the Juilliard School of Music, studying under Paul Kochanski and Rubin Goldmark. He was first violinist with the New York Philharmonic for the first seven years of his U.S. residence. He played in the Coolidge String Quartet from 1935 to 1940. He was a protégé of Serge Koussevitzky, who premiered his symphonies to great acclaim.
He married Alice Newman, a notable pianist, who later published a memoir, "Duet with Nicky", about their early years together (Lippincott). Alice was the sister of chemist Melvin Spencer Newman and the granddaughter of New Orleans investment banker and philanthropist Isidore Newman).[1] They had two children. His second wife was Judith Berezowsky. He died on August 27, 1953, in New York.
Among Berezowsky's works are an opera, Prince Batrak, four symphonies, concertos for harp, violin and 'cello, and many diverse works of chamber music. His recordings include an LP set of Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov, which he conducted. He enjoyed a great success with his children's opera Babar and his oratorio Gilgamesh. His Concerto for Harp was commissioned by Edna Phillips, who gave the premiere with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and was performed by Carlos Salzedo with the National Orchestra Association under Léon Barzin with an original cadenza by Salzedo, included in the edition published by Theodore Presser. It was not performed again until performances by Saul Davis Zlatkovski in recital and with the St. Paul J.C.C. Symphony Orchestra under James Riccardo in 1990.
Nicolai Berezowsky scores (the composer's manuscripts, including unpublished works) in the Music Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Finding aid to Nicolai Berezowsky papers at Columbia University. Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
February 29, 2024
nicolai, berezowsky, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, januar. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Nicolai Berezowsky news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message Nicolai Tikhonovich Berezowsky May 17 1900 August 27 1953 was a Russian born American violinist and composer He was born in St Petersburg Russia on May 17 1900 graduating from the Imperial Capella with honors when he was sixteen As a young boy singer in the chapel choir he performed for the Tsar s family and Rasputin In the book Duet with Nicky full citation needed he recalled how the choirboys would tear pages from their hymnals to make spit balls which they would aim at Rasputin He later served as musical director of the School of Modern Art in Moscow and as first violinist at the Moscow Grand Opera In 1922 he made a harrowing escape from the Soviet Union in disguise only to be arrested in Poland but was released by an official who remembered hearing him play Once settled in New York Berezowsky attended the Juilliard School of Music studying under Paul Kochanski and Rubin Goldmark He was first violinist with the New York Philharmonic for the first seven years of his U S residence He played in the Coolidge String Quartet from 1935 to 1940 He was a protege of Serge Koussevitzky who premiered his symphonies to great acclaim He married Alice Newman a notable pianist who later published a memoir Duet with Nicky about their early years together Lippincott Alice was the sister of chemist Melvin Spencer Newman and the granddaughter of New Orleans investment banker and philanthropist Isidore Newman 1 They had two children His second wife was Judith Berezowsky He died on August 27 1953 in New York Among Berezowsky s works are an opera Prince Batrak four symphonies concertos for harp violin and cello and many diverse works of chamber music His recordings include an LP set of Mussorgsky s Boris Godunov which he conducted He enjoyed a great success with his children s opera Babar and his oratorio Gilgamesh His Concerto for Harp was commissioned by Edna Phillips who gave the premiere with the Philadelphia Orchestra and was performed by Carlos Salzedo with the National Orchestra Association under Leon Barzin with an original cadenza by Salzedo included in the edition published by Theodore Presser It was not performed again until performances by Saul Davis Zlatkovski in recital and with the St Paul J C C Symphony Orchestra under James Riccardo in 1990 Contents 1 Selected works 2 Sources 3 References 4 External linksSelected works editSymphony No 1 Op 12 Symphony No 2 Op 18 Symphony No 3 Op 21 Symphony No 4 Op 29 Sinfonietta for orchestra Op 17 Christmas Festival Overture Ukrainian Noel 1943 Soldiers on the Town 1943 Fantasy piano duo and orchestra 1944 Suite Hebraique Op 3 orchestra Introduction and Allegro for small orchestra Op 8 Sextet Concerto 1951 Concerto for clarinet or viola and orchestra Op 28 Concerto Lirico for cello and orchestra Op 19 Violin Concerto Op 14 2 failed verification Concerto for Harp and Orchestra Op 31 Suite No 2 woodwind quintet 3 failed verification Toccata Variations and Finale Op 23 Duo for clarinet and viola Op 15 Gilgamesh Cantata for narrator solo voices mixed chorus and orchestra 4 failed verification Sources editNew York Times obituary published August 28 1953 Note from the published edition of his Brass Suite for Seven Instruments Op 24References edit Newman Jacob K in James Terry White The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography v 33 New York J T White 1947 p 183 Home presser com Home boosey com http www schirmer com Schirmer s Berezovsky works for ensemblesExternal links editNicolai Berezowsky scores the composer s manuscripts including unpublished works in the Music Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Finding aid to Nicolai Berezowsky papers at Columbia University Rare Book amp Manuscript Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nicolai Berezowsky amp oldid 1129439932, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
