Emanuel Ax facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emanuel Ax
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Ax in 2014
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| Born | June 8, 1949 Lviv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
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| Occupation | Classical pianist |
Emanuel "Manny" Ax (born June 8, 1949) is a famous American classical pianist. He is known for playing beautiful music with other musicians. He often performs with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. He also plays piano by himself and with big orchestras around the world.
Emanuel Ax started learning piano at age six. When he was 12, he began studying at the Juilliard School. He won several important music competitions. In 1974, he won first prize in the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition. Since 1990, he has also taught piano at the Juilliard School.
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Growing Up and Early Music Journey
Emanuel Ax was born in Lviv, Ukraine, in 1949. His parents, Joachim and Hellen Ax, were from Poland. They had survived very difficult times during World War II. Emanuel's father was his first piano teacher. He started playing piano when he was six years old.
When Emanuel was seven, his family moved to Warsaw, Poland. He continued his piano studies there. Two years later, they moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He kept learning music and was part of a junior music club.
In 1961, when Emanuel was 12, his family moved to New York City. He then studied piano with Mieczysław Munz at the Juilliard School. He studied there until 1976. In 1970, he also earned a degree in French from Columbia University. That same year, he became an American citizen.
Winning Music Competitions
Emanuel Ax entered many piano competitions. These competitions helped him become known in the music world.
- In 1970, he received an honorable mention at the VIII International Chopin Piano Competition. This competition was held in Warsaw.
- In 1971, he won third place at the Vianna da Motta International Music Competition.
- In 1972, he placed seventh at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels.
He became very famous when he won the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition in 1974. The famous pianist Arthur Rubinstein himself was a judge and congratulated Emanuel. The New York Times reported on his win. They said he received $5,000, a gold medal, and chances to perform with major orchestras. He also got a recording contract.
In 1975, he received the Michaels Award. In 1979, he was given the Avery Fisher Prize. These awards recognized his amazing talent.
Emanuel Ax's Thoughts on Music
Emanuel Ax has shared his thoughts on music competitions and performing. He said that competitions can be very stressful. He believes it's hard to say one pianist is "better" than another at the highest levels. He feels it's more about who speaks to you through their music.
He also advises against playing new pieces in public concerts. He believes pianists need to be very comfortable with their music. This helps them perform their best.
Performing and Collaborating
Emanuel Ax has played with many great musicians. He has been the main duo partner of cellist Yo-Yo Ma since 1973. They have performed many concerts together. They have also recorded a lot of music for cello and piano.
Ax also played in a quartet with Yo-Yo Ma and violinists Isaac Stern and Jaime Laredo. They recorded music by famous composers like Brahms and Mozart. This quartet played together until Isaac Stern passed away in 2001.
In 1997, Emanuel Ax was the music director for the Ojai Music Festival. He has also received special honorary degrees from universities like Yale University. In 2012, he was added to the American Classical Music Hall of Fame.
Musical Style and Choices
Emanuel Ax enjoys playing music by modern composers. He has performed new pieces for the first time in public. These include works by John Adams and Christopher Rouse.
He also plays music by older, well-known composers. These include Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin. This shows he loves a wide range of music.
Personal Life
Emanuel Ax lives in New York City with his wife, who is also a pianist, Yoko Nozaki. They have two children. He speaks Polish at home with his family.
He even helped create a crossword puzzle for The New York Times in 2017. He is also an ambassador for Music Traveler, a group that helps musicians find practice spaces. Other famous people like Billy Joel and Hans Zimmer are also ambassadors.
Recordings
Emanuel Ax has recorded many albums. Here are some of his notable recordings:
- Beethoven: Complete Cello Sonatas (with Yo-Yo Ma) - He recorded these in 1981, 1984, and 1986.
- Chopin: Piano Concertos No. 1 and No. 2 (1984)
- Brahms: Cello Sonatas (with Yo-Yo Ma) - Recorded in 1985 and 1992.
- Schumann: Cello Concerto (with Yo-Yo Ma) - Recorded in 1988.
- Dvořák: Piano Trios (with Yo-Yo Ma and Young Uck Kim) - Recorded in 1988.
- Brahms: The Piano Quartets (with Yo-Yo Ma, Isaac Stern, and Jaime Laredo) - Recorded in 1990.
- Fauré: Piano Quartets (with Yo-Yo Ma, Isaac Stern, and Jaime Laredo) - Recorded in 1993.
- Mozart: The Piano Quartets (with Yo-Yo Ma, Isaac Stern, and Jaime Laredo) - Recorded in 1997.
- Mendelssohn: Piano Trios (with Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman) - Recorded in 2010.
Awards and Recognitions
Emanuel Ax has received many awards for his musical talent:
- 1970 - Honorable Mention, VIII International Chopin Piano Competition
- 1972 – Seventh Prize, Queen Elisabeth Competition
- 1974 – First Prize, Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition
- 1979 – Avery Fisher Prize
- 2007 – Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- 2009 – Member of the American Philosophical Society
- 2012 - Inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame
- 2013 – Echo Klassik Award for Solo Recording of the Year
He has also won several Grammy Awards for his chamber music performances:
- 1986: For Brahms: Cello and Piano Sonatas (with Yo-Yo Ma)
- 1987: For Beethoven: Cello and Piano Sonata No. 4 (with Yo-Yo Ma)
- 1992: For Brahms: Piano Quartets (with Jaime Laredo, Yo-Yo Ma, and Isaac Stern)
- 1993: For Brahms: Sonatas for Cello & Piano (with Yo-Yo Ma)
- 1996: For Brahms/Beethoven/Mozart: Clarinet Trios (with Yo-Yo Ma and Richard Stoltzman)
He also won Grammy Awards for his solo piano performances:
- 1995: For Haydn: Piano Sonatas, Nos. 32, 47, 53, 59
- 2004: For Haydn: Piano Sonatas Nos. 29, 31, 34, 35 & 49
See also
In Spanish: Emanuel Ax para niños
