Gina Bachauer

Gina Bachauer (Greek: Τζίνα Μπαχάουερ; May 21, 1913, AthensTemplate:Spaced ndashAugust 22, 1976, Athens) was a Greek classical pianist who toured extensively in the United States and Europe. Interested in piano at a young age, Bachauer graduated from the Athens Conservatory and studied under Alfred Cortot and Sergei Rachmaninoff. She is best known for playing Romantic piano concertos. She played hundreds of concerts for the Allied troops in the Middle East during World War II while she lived in Egypt. She spent a lot of time touring the United States and Europe, giving over 100 concerts each year. Bachauer also recorded extensively, both as a soloist and with orchestras. She received an honorary doctorate from the University of Utah. During her career she was called the "queen of pianists". The Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation was named in honor of her contributions to the musical world. In her personal life, Bachauer married music conductor Alec Sherman, who became her manager. She died at the age of 63 at the Athens Festival.

Biography

Gina Bachauer was born in Athens, Greece in a Jewish family.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She was interested in the piano from a young age; she gave her first recital as a child in her hometown of Athens.<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She graduated from the Athens Conservatory in 1929.<ref>Biography of Gina Bachauer Template:Webarchive on the website of the GINA BACHAUER International Piano Foundation</ref> She gained further piano instruction from Alfred Cortot and Sergei Rachmaninoff.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Her studies under Rachmaninoff involved trailing him around the world, requesting lessons even as he toured.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite news</ref> Her debut performance with an orchestra was in 1932. She had three "debuts" before her career truly took off. Her first debut was interrupted by her father's financial problems; she returned to Greece to work for her family. Her next debut was interrupted by World War II, but she continued playing, practicing, and looking for opportunities.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She gave hundreds of concerts all over the world by the end of her career.<ref>Jean-Pierre Thiollet, 88 notes pour piano solo, "Solo nec plus ultra", Neva Editions, 2015, p.50.Template:ISBN.</ref> Bachauer played a wide range of music but was most known for her performances of Romantic piano concertos.Template:Sfn

She married Alec Sherman after playing with the New London Orchestra under his direction.<ref name=":0" /> Sherman left his conducting career to become Bachauer's manager.Template:Sfn She died in 1976 of a heart attack at the Athens Festival, on the day she was to appear as a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, D.C.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Career

Template:External media Bachauer toured the American and European continents throughout her career, giving over 100 concerts each year. She would travel and perform eleven months out of the year.Template:Sfn In 1965, she had done 14 coast-to-coast tours of the United States.Template:Sfn She performed solo recitals in addition to her performances with orchestras.Template:Sfn She received critical acclaim for her work and was called the "queen of pianists" during her busy career.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn After her studies under Cortot and Rachmaninoff, she toured Italy, Yugoslavia, Greece, and Egypt, but the outbreak of World War II stranded her in Cairo. There, she gave concerts to troops in the area, expanding her repertoire beyond classical music for a time because it bored the troops.Template:Sfn She considered her 1935 performance with the Athens Symphony Orchestra as her true debut, as it launched her career more than any of her previous performances.Template:Sfn In 1955, she performed in the Herodes Atticus Theatre before King Paul and Queen Frederika. She was the first solo pianist to do so.Template:Sfn She debuted in the United States in 1950 and, despite a low turnout, received positive reviews.Template:Sfn

Recording music was also a significant part of Bachauer's career. She recorded for the His Master's Voice, RCA Victor, and Mercury labels. She did recordings with orchestras and released her own solo albums.Template:Sfn

During her three decades as the "queen of pianists", Bachauer took time to support young pianists by listening to them perform and offering her advice.Template:Sfn In 1973, she took a short break from touring to judge the American Music Scholarship Association's piano competition and worked with the students who competed.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Bachauer was also the piano teacher of Princess Irene and gave piano lessons to King Paul.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Princess Irene performed with Bachauer on some of her tours in the United States, including concerts in Salt Lake City, Seattle, Cincinnati, and Dallas.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Dallas Symphony Orchestra reached out to Bachauer in 1971 when they were experiencing financial difficulty. In response, Bachauer brought Princess Irene to perform a two-piano concerto with her as part of a Dallas Symphony Orchestra program. The novelty of a Greek princess combined with the popularity of Bachauer brought in a huge audience, as well as $100,000 for the struggling orchestra.Template:Sfn

Bachauer was a close friend of Maurice Abravanel and often appeared with the Utah Symphony Orchestra.<ref name=":1" /> She was considered an honorary citizen of Utah and held an honorary doctorate of music from the University of Utah.Template:Sfn The Gina Bachauer International Piano foundation is based in Salt Lake City.<ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She also frequently played with the London Philharmonic and the BBC Orchestra.<ref name=":4" />

Legacy

The Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation's programs include educational outreach and prestigious competitions.<ref name=":3" /> The Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition was established in 1976 in her honor. It attracts young pianists worldwide to Salt Lake City each year. As of 1997, the house in which Bachauer lived in Halandri stood empty, though it was still taken care of, along with the stray cats that Bachauer fed when she was alive, by friends and neighbors.<ref name=":2" />

In 1981, the Greek Post issued a stamp in Bachauer's honor.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> She is considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.Template:Sfn

Works cited

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External links

• Gina Bachauer International Music Association - Official Site
• Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation - Official Site
• Gina Bachauer papers, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University
• Gina Bachauer / Historic Piano Masterclass / Student - Yefim Bronfman / Jerusalem Music Centre, Jerusalem Music Centre, YouTube