Eugene Istomin

Eugene George Istomin (November 26, 1925 – October 10, 2003) was an American pianist born in New York City of Russian-Jewish parents. He was famous for his work in the trio, with Isaac Stern and Leonard Rose, known as the Istomin-Stern-Rose Trio, with whom he made many recordings, and particularly of music by Beethoven, Brahms and Schubert. He also played with them in orchestral music, with conductors such as Eugene Ormandy, Bruno Walter and also as a soloist.

Related Topics:
November 26 - 1925 - October 10 - 2003 - New York City - Russia - Jew - Isaac Stern - Leonard Rose - Beethoven - Brahms - Schubert - Eugene Ormandy - Bruno Walter

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His earliest public performances were from age 6 with his mother, and at 12 he entered the Curtis Institute. He studied under Rudolf Serkin and also Mieczyslaw Horzowski.

Related Topics:
Curtis Institute - Rudolf Serkin - Mieczyslaw Horzowski

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In 1943 he won the Leventritt award, and also the Philhadelphia Youth Award. He made his debuts with the Philadelphia Orchestra with Eugene Ormandy, playing a concerto by Chopin, and the New York Philharmonic conducted by Artur Rodzinski playing Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2 in the same week in 1943.

Related Topics:
Philadelphia Orchestra - Eugene Ormandy - Chopin - New York Philharmonic - Artur Rodzinski - Piano Concerto No. 2

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He commissioned and premiered Roger Sessions' piano concerto in 1956. Several other composers, including Henri Dutilleux, and Ned Rorem wrote music for him.

Related Topics:
Roger Sessions - 1956 - Henri Dutilleux - Ned Rorem

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He won a Grammy Award in 1970 with the trio, for their recordings of Beethoven.

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He married Marta Montañez (Marta Casals Istomin), the widow of Pablo Casals, on February 15, 1975. She is the president of the Manhattan School of Music former artistic director of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. He moved to Washington in 1980.

Related Topics:
Marta Montañez - Marta Casals Istomin - Pablo Casals - February 15 - 1975 - Washington, D.C.

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In the 1980s and 1990s he gave recital tours in which he toured 30 American cities with his own pianos and piano tuner.

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He received the French Legion d'Honneur in 2001.

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He died of liver cancer in 2003 at his home in Washington.

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