Ilona Kabos facts for kids

Ilona Kabos (born December 7, 1893 – died May 27, 1973) was a talented pianist and teacher from Hungary and Britain. She was known for her amazing piano skills and for teaching many future famous musicians.

Early Life and Music Studies

Ilona Kabos was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1893. She loved music from a young age. She studied at the famous Franz Liszt Academy of Music. Her teachers included Árpád Szendy, who was a student of the legendary composer Franz Liszt. She also learned from Leo Weiner and Zoltán Kodály. In 1915, she won the important Liszt Prize.

Starting Her Career

Early in her career, Ilona Kabos played for the famous musician Ferruccio Busoni. He was so impressed that he also played for her! She traveled a lot, performing concerts all over the world. She was often the first person to play new pieces by composers like Kodály, Weiner, and Béla Bartók. In 1951, she performed for the first time in America. From 1930 to 1936, she also taught music at the Royal Budapest Academy of Music.

Life in London and Important Performances

Ilona Kabos married another Hungarian pianist named Louis Kentner. They lived together in London, England. People often said that Ilona was an even better pianist than her husband. In 1942, Ilona and Louis performed a very special concert in London. They played the world premiere of Bartók's Concerto for Two Pianos, Percussion and Orchestra. This means it was the very first time this piece was played in public. Ilona also premiered Robert Crawford's Six Bagatelles in 1948. Her marriage ended in 1945.

Teaching and Legacy

Ilona Kabos is most remembered for being an incredible teacher. She taught many students, helping them become great pianists themselves. She gave special master classes, which are advanced lessons for talented students. She taught privately and at schools like the Dartington Summer School. From 1965, she taught at the famous Juilliard School in New York City. She often worked with another great teacher, Rosina Lhévinne.

Famous Students

Many of Ilona Kabos's students became well-known musicians. Some of them include:

• John Ogdon
• Joseph Kalichstein
• Peter Frankl
• Norma Fisher
• Kun-Woo Paik
• Alberto Portugheis
• Alan Weiss

Her Unique Teaching Style

Ilona Kabos had a unique way of teaching. She would often write notes directly on her students' music. She used a special crayon to write big, bold directions. These notes helped her students understand the music better. She also helped with the music for several movies, including:

• Murder in the Cathedral (1951)
• The Fake (1953)
• Jet Storm (1959)
• The Hands of Orlac (1960)

A special place for her students to live was set up in North London. Ilona Kabos passed away in London in 1973, when she was 79 years old.

Musical Tributes

After her death, other musicians created music to honor Ilona Kabos.

• The composer André Tchaikowsky wrote a set of piano pieces called Inventions, Op. 2. Each piece was a musical picture of a friend. The third piece was named "To Ilona Kabos."
• In 1968, Serge Tcherepnin wrote a piano piece simply called "For Ilona Kabos."

Recordings

Ilona Kabos did not make many recordings, but the ones she did are highly valued. Some of her recordings include:

• A live concert from 1952 at New York Town Hall. This recording features works by:
  • Liszt (Variations on 'Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen' and parts of Weihnachtsbaum)
  • Bartók (Three Rondos, Sonatina, and For Children)
    • A music critic named Edward Tatnall Canby called this "the best piano record I have heard."
• Liszt's Gnomenreigen (recorded live in Budapest, 1956)
• Sir Michael Tippett's Piano Concerto (recorded by the BBC)
• J.S. Bach: Concerto in C major for Two Claviers (with Gina Bachauer)