Artur Balsam facts for kids

Artur Balsam (born February 8, 1906 – died September 1, 1994) was a talented Polish-born American classical pianist and a great teacher of music.

A Life in Music

Artur Balsam was born in Warsaw, Poland. He started playing the piano at a young age and made his first public performance in Łódź when he was just 12 years old. He then went on to study at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik with famous teachers like Artur Schnabel.

Early Years and Training

In 1930, Artur Balsam won the Berlin International Piano Competition. The next year, he won the special Mendelssohn Prize for playing chamber music with another musician, Roman Totenberg. In 1932, he toured the United States with the famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin.

A New Home in America

When the Nazis came to power, Balsam moved to New York City. There, he became a top choice for other international artists who needed a pianist to play alongside them. This is called being an "accompanist." He played with many great musicians, including Henri Temianka, Zino Francescatti, Isaac Stern, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Nathan Milstein.

Master of Chamber Music

Artur Balsam became known as a leading expert in chamber music in the United States. Chamber music is classical music played by a small group of instruments, usually one player per part. He also sometimes performed solo piano concerts. He recorded all of Mozart's piano music and Haydn's piano sonatas. He also recorded Mozart's music for two pianos with Nadia Reisenberg and later with Gena Raps.

Inspiring Future Musicians

Artur Balsam was also a dedicated teacher. He taught at important music schools like the Eastman School of Music, Boston University, and the Manhattan School of Music. Many of his students became famous musicians themselves, including Emanuel Ax, Murray Perahia, and Gena Raps. He passed away in Manhattan at the age of 88. His wife, Ruth Rosalie, later led a foundation that supported chamber music.