Alexander Brailowsky facts for kids
Alexander Brailowsky (born February 16, 1896, died April 25, 1976) was a famous pianist. He was born in Russia but later became a French citizen. He was especially known for playing the music of Frédéric Chopin. Brailowsky was one of the top concert pianists between World War I and World War II.
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Early Life and Learning
Alexander Brailowsky was born in Kiev, which was part of the Russian Empire back then. His father was a professional pianist, and young Alexander started learning piano from him.
When he was 8 years old, he studied piano in Kiev with Vladimir Puchalsky. Puchalsky was a student of a famous teacher named Theodor Leschetizky.
At 18, Brailowsky went to the Kiev Conservatory. He graduated in 1911 with a gold medal, showing how talented he was. He then continued his studies with Leschetizky in Vienna. After that, he learned from Ferruccio Busoni in Zürich and Francis Planté in Paris. He became a French citizen in 1926.
A Career in Music
Brailowsky played his first big concert in Paris in 1919. He became very famous for playing all 160 piano pieces by Frédéric Chopin. He would play them in a series of six concerts.
In 1924, he performed all of Chopin's works in Paris. This was the first time anyone had done this. For part of the concert, he even used Chopin's own piano! He then performed these Chopin music series more than 30 times. He played them in cities like Paris, Brussels, and Mexico City.
After these successes, Brailowsky went on a very popular world tour. His first concert in America was in New York City in 1924. In 1936, he toured the United States again. During a series of 19 concerts in Buenos Aires, he played different music every time. He never repeated a single piece!
During World War II, he played concerts for the USO. In 1960, he played the complete Chopin series again in Paris and Brussels. This was to celebrate 150 years since Chopin was born.
Between 1925 and 1930, Brailowsky made many recordings for special "reproducing pianos." These recordings helped save his early music for the future. Later, he made audio recordings in Berlin and London. He also recorded for big labels like RCA Victor and CBS. Besides Chopin, he also played music by composers like Rachmaninoff, Saint-Saëns, and Liszt.
His Piano Style
Brailowsky believed that playing Chopin's music needed a special touch. He said the technique should be "fluent, fluid, delicate, airy, and capable of great variety of color." This means his playing was smooth, light, gentle, and full of different musical feelings.
Selected Recordings
- Chopin: The Fourteen Waltzes (Columbia MS-6228)
- Chopin: The Complete Mazurkas Vol. 1 (Columbia)
- Chopin: The Complete Mazurkas Vol. 2 (Columbia)
- A Chopin Recital (Columbia MS-6569)
- Chopin Nocturnes Vol. 1
- Chopin Nocturnes Vol. 2
- Chopin Polonaises (Columbia)
- Chopin: The 24 Preludes (Columbia MS-6119)
- Chopin: Concerto No. 1 in E Minor. Op. 11
- Chopin: The Complete Etudes (RCA)
- Chopin Concerto No. 1, Liszt: Todtentanz (Columbia)
- Brailowsky Plays Liszt (RCA LM1772)
- Liszt: 15 Hungarian Rhapsodies
- Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 (RCA)
- Schumann: Etudes Symphoniques (RCA)
- Chopin: Sonata in B Minor Op. 58 (HMV DB 3701)
- Chopin: Waltzes (Volume 1) *Op. 18 *Op. 34, Nos. 1, 2 and 3 *Op. 42 *Op. 64, Nos. 1, 2 and 3 (Victor Red Seal Records M863)
Later Life
Alexander Brailowsky passed away in New York City when he was 80 years old. He is buried with his wife, Felicia Brailowsky, in Queens, New York.
See Also
In Spanish: Alexander Brailowsky para niños
