Gina Bachauer facts for kids
Gina Bachauer (born May 21, 1910, in Athens, Greece – died August 22, 1976, in Athens) was a famous Greek classical pianist. She traveled a lot to play concerts in the United States and Europe. Gina loved the piano from a young age. She graduated from the Athens Conservatory and learned from famous musicians like Alfred Cortot and Sergei Rachmaninoff. She was best known for playing Romantic piano concertos, which are pieces for piano and orchestra.
During World War II, while living in Egypt, she played hundreds of concerts for the Allied troops in the Middle East. After the war, she spent a lot of time touring, giving over 100 concerts every year. Gina Bachauer also made many recordings, both by herself and with orchestras. She was even called the "queen of pianists" during her career. The Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation was named after her because of her important contributions to music. She married music conductor Alec Sherman, who later became her manager. She passed away at age 66 during the Athens Festival.
Her Early Life and Training
Gina Bachauer was born in Athens, Greece. She was Jewish. She showed interest in the piano very early and gave her first concert as a child in Athens. She finished her studies at the Athens Conservatory in 1929. She continued to learn from top pianists like Alfred Cortot and Sergei Rachmaninoff. She even followed Rachmaninoff around the world to get lessons from him while he was on tour!
Her first performance with an orchestra was in 1932. Gina had a few "debuts" before her career truly took off. Her first attempt was stopped by her father's money problems, so she went back to Greece to help her family. Her next big start was interrupted by World War II. But she kept playing, practicing, and looking for chances to perform. By the end of her life, she had given hundreds of concerts all over the world. Gina played many different kinds of music, but she was most famous for her Romantic piano concertos.
She married Alec Sherman after playing with the New London Orchestra, which he conducted. Sherman later stopped conducting to become Gina's manager. She died in 1976 from a heart attack at the Athens Festival. This was on the very day she was supposed to play with the National Symphony Orchestra from Washington, D.C..
A Busy Music Career
Gina Bachauer traveled across America and Europe throughout her career. She performed more than 100 concerts each year, often touring for eleven months out of twelve. By 1965, she had completed 14 tours across the United States, from one coast to the other. She played solo concerts and also performed with many orchestras. People praised her work, and she earned the nickname "queen of pianists" during her very active career.
After studying with Cortot and Rachmaninoff, she toured Italy, Yugoslavia, Greece, and Egypt. But then World War II started, and she got stuck in Cairo. While there, she played concerts for the soldiers in the area. For a while, she even played music beyond classical pieces because the troops found it more interesting. She considered her 1935 concert with the Athens Symphony Orchestra her real start. This performance helped launch her career more than any before it. In 1955, she played in the Herodes Atticus Theatre for King Paul and Queen Frederika. She was the first solo pianist to ever do this. She first played in the United States in 1950. Even though not many people came to that first show, she received very good reviews.
Recording music was also a big part of Gina's career. She recorded for famous labels like HMV (His Master's Voice), RCA Victor, and Mercury. She made recordings with orchestras and released her own solo albums.
During her three decades as the "queen of pianists," Gina Bachauer also helped young musicians. She would listen to them play and give them advice. In 1973, she took a short break from touring to judge a piano competition. She also worked with the students who were competing.
Gina Bachauer was also the piano teacher for Princess Irene and gave lessons to King Paul. Princess Irene even performed with Gina on some of her tours in the United States. These concerts included shows in Salt Lake City, Seattle, Cincinnati, and Dallas. In 1971, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra was having money problems. Gina helped by bringing Princess Irene to perform a special two-piano concert with her. The idea of a Greek princess playing, combined with Gina's popularity, brought in a huge audience. This concert raised $100,000 for the orchestra!
Gina was a close friend of Maurice Abravanel and often played with the Utah Symphony Orchestra. She was considered an honorary citizen of Utah and received an honorary doctorate degree in music from the University of Utah. The Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation is located in Salt Lake City. She also often played with the London Philharmonic and the BBC Orchestra.
Her Lasting Legacy
The Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation has programs that teach about music and hold important competitions. The Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition was started in 1976 to honor her. This competition brings young pianists from all over the world to Salt Lake City each year.
In 1981, the Greek Post released a special stamp to honor Gina Bachauer. She is remembered as one of the greatest pianists of the twentieth century.
See also
In Spanish: Gina Bachauer (pianista) para niños
