Anatole Kitain facts for kids

Anatole Kitain (Russian: Анатолий Китаин; 17 September 1903 – 30 July 1980) was a very talented Russian classical pianist. He was known for his amazing piano skills and deep musical understanding. Even though he wasn't as famous as some other musicians, many people who heard his recordings thought he was one of the best pianists of his time.

Growing Up and Learning Music

Anatole Kitain was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 1903. His family was full of musicians! His brothers, Robert and Boris, played the violin, and his brother Alexander also played the piano.

A Young Talent Discovered

Anatole showed he was special from a very young age. When he was just six years old, he played a piece of music he wrote himself. It was a nocturne, which is a calm and dreamy piece, often played at night. The famous composer Alexander Glazunov was so surprised by Anatole's talent!

Studying at Conservatories

Anatole started learning music at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. This is a special school for music. But because of big changes happening in Russia at the time, his family moved to Kiev. There, he continued his studies at the Kiev Conservatory with a teacher named Sergei Tarnowsky. Many other famous pianists, like Vladimir Horowitz, also studied there around the same time. Later, Anatole became a private student of Felix Blumenfeld, a very important piano teacher.

Moving Around the World

In 1923, Anatole and his family had to leave Russia because of the difficult times there. They moved to other countries.

A Prize-Winning Pianist

Anatole entered the first Franz Liszt Competition in Budapest. This was a big piano contest named after a famous composer. Anatole won a prize, showing off his great skills!

Life in France and America

After the competition, Kitain settled in France. But when World War II started, he had to move again, this time to the United States. It was hard for him to become famous there, even though he was very good. For a short time in 1944, he even changed his name to Alexander Karinoff, hoping for a fresh start. But he went back to using his real name two years later. Even with his talent, he was often compared to his former classmate, Vladimir Horowitz, who became much more famous.

His Music Lives On

Anatole Kitain made several LP recordings in the United States. One of these recordings was with his brother, Robert. He played his last concert on October 22, 1963. Anatole Kitain passed away in 1980 in New Jersey.

Surviving Recordings

Not all of his early recordings from Europe survived. Only the ones he made for Columbia Records are still around. These recordings show that he was a pianist with amazing technique and a deep understanding of music. People who listen to them say he sounded a lot like his famous classmates, Horowitz and Simon Barere. It's interesting that even though he was so talented, he wasn't as well-known as they were.

A Highly Praised Album

One album, called "Anatole Kitain - The Complete Columbia Recordings 1936-39," has been highly praised. A magazine called Classic CD wrote about it: These recordings show that he is one of the most important pianists of the century... I would definitely put this important release into my Top Fifty All-time Great Piano recordings without a doubt. This album is still available today for people to enjoy his wonderful music.

See Also

In Spanish: Anatole Kitain para niños