Lev Abeliovich
Internet Edition compiled by Onno van Rijen
Updated 2 April 2006
Born
In 1912 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Died: 1985 in Minsk.
Education
He studied piano at the Warsaw Conservatory from 1935-1939 and began composing in the mid-1930s.
He fled Poland in 1939 to avoid the Nazi extermination camps, taking up residence in Belarus and
attended the Minsk Conservatory, where he was a student of V. Zolotaryov.
He graduated in 1941 and did post grad work with Myaskovsky at the Moscow Conservatory from 1945-1946.
Style
Although Abeliovich composed extensively, and his vocal music ranks with the best of the 20th century
Eastern European repertory, systematic Soviet anti-Semitism prevented him from receiving the critical
acclaim and support he deserved. For example, major publications on music in the Soviet Union make
no mention of him.
Works
Violin Sonata No. 1 (1939)
Violin Sonata No. 2 (1947)
Piano Sonata No. 1 (1947)
- CD Altarus 9056 (2 CD-set): Alexander Tutunov (piano)
Violin Sonata No. 3 (1948)
Oboe Sonata (1950)
Suite for two pianos (1951)
Piano Sonata No. 2 (1953)
- CD Altarus 9056 (2 CD-set): Alexander Tutunov (piano)
Piano Trio (1955)
- CD Altarus 9058: Alexander Tutunov (piano), Kathryn Lucktenberg (violin), Steven Pologe (cello)
Suite on Belorussian Folk Songs for two pianos (1957)
Symphonic Pictures (1958)
Symphony No. 1 (1962)
- LP Melodiya: Belorussian SSR SO, Katayev
Overture (1963)
Symphony No. 2 in E minor (1964)
- LP Melodiya D 24909-10: Belorussian SSR State SO, Katayev
Frescoes for piano, book 1 (1965)
- CD Altarus 9056 (2 CD-set): Alexander Tutunov (piano)
Symphony No. 3 (1967)
- LP Melodiya: Belorussian SSR State SO, Katayev
Symphony No. 4 (1969)
- LP Melodiya: Belorussian SSR State SO, Katayev
Frescoes for violin and piano (1966-1971)
Clarinet Sonata (1972)
Frescoes for piano, book 2 (1972)
- CD Altarus 9056 (2 CD-set): Alexander Tutunov (piano)
Aria for violin and orchestra (1973)
- LP Melodiya C10 8447: Minsk Chamber Orchestra
Aria for violin and piano (1973)
- CD Altarus 9058: Alexander Tutunov (piano), Kathryn Lucktenberg (viola)
Piano Sonata No. 3 (1974)
- CD Altarus 9056 (2 CD-set): Alexander Tutunov (piano)
Vocalise in Memory of Shostakovich (1976)
- LP Melodiya C10 12705: Belorussian SSR State SO, Yu. Yefimov (conductor), T. Pechinskaya (mezzo-soprano)
Piano Concerto (1978-1980)
- Duration: 21 minutes.
First performance in 1972; Vladimir Olovnikov (piano).
CD Altarus 9058: Corvallis-Oregon State University Symphony Orchestra, Marlan Carlson (conductor), Alexander Tutunov (piano)
Ten Romances on poems by Tyutchev
- CD Altarus 9058: Alexander Tutunov (piano), James Wood (bass-baritone)
Ostinato, concertino for orchestra
Thanks to David Hibbard from the United States for additional information
Please send your comments and additions
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