Efrem Kurtz
Distinguished in performances of both the ballet and symphonic repertories, Efrem Kurtz lived for nearly an entire century. Leaving Russia in the aftermath of the revolution, he soon established himself as a quick study and conductor of sound musicianship. Trained in the works of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Kurtz was an equally persuasive interpreter of the major works of his own time. After acquiring United States citizenship during WWII, he served two American orchestras, noticeably improving the performing standards of both.
Kurtz studied at the Conservatory in his native St. Petersburg prior to the revolution, working with such instructors as Alexander Glazunov, Nicolai Tcherepnin, and Jazeps Vitols. After the change of regime, he transferred his academic pursuits first to Riga, then to Berlin. His conducting debut was a last-minute affair; when Artur Nikisch became ill, Kurtz deputized for him in directing the orchestra in a performance for dancer Isadora Duncan. His mastery of the situation led to his being given three concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic.
During the ensuing two years, Kurtz was in demand throughout Germany, his engagements taking him to more than 40 cities. In 1924, he was hired as music director of the Stuttgart Philharmonic where he remained for nine seasons. In addition, he was given oversight over all musical broadcasting in southern Germany. When another famous dancer, Anna Pavlova, attended a Stuttgart concert in 1927, she was impressed enough to engage Kurtz for a short season in London and, later, for a South American tour. During the latter, Kurtz conducted symphonic concerts in both Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. Kurtz continued to conduct for Pavlova until her death in 1931, accompanying her on an Australian tour as well.
In 1930 and 1931, Kurtz was invited to the Salzburg Festival to conduct concerts devoted to the music of Handel. For eight years, beginning in 1933, Kurtz served as music director for the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, touring extensively with that company throughout Europe and the United States. A half-year was spent conducting symphonic concerts in Australia in 1939, Sydney and Melbourne sharing Kurtz between them. A series of guest performances with the New York Philharmonic that same year led to an invitation for further appearances in 1940.
In the 1940s, Kurtz began to work in motion pictures, conducting the scores to such feature films as Escape Me Never whose music was provided by William Walton, and the Orson Welles production of Macbeth with musical score by Jacques Ibert. During this same period, Kurtz also conducted the scores of several Ballets Russes productions being preserved on film.
In 1943, Kurtz became the music director of the Kansas City Philharmonic Orchestra, sharpening the performance capability of that ensemble and expanding its repertory. He held his directorship there until 1947. Kurtz next assumed the musical directorship of the Houston Symphony Orchestra in 1948 and continued in that capacity until 1954, accomplishing much the same improvement as he had managed in Kansas City. From 1955 to 1957, Kurtz undertook a joint directorship with John Pritchard of the Liverpool Philharmonic, and from 1957 until his retirement, he accepted engagements on a freelance basis. Returning to Russia in 1966 for the first time since it had become the Soviet Union, he conducted successful concerts in both Leningrad and Moscow. Kurtz undertook several opera house projects, conducting, among other places, in Milan and Rome.
He was married to flutist Elaine Shaffer.
© TiVo
-
Shostakovich: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2, Symphony No. 1 & Three Fantastic Dances
Cristina Ortiz, Paavo Berglund, Efrem Kurtz
Classical - Warner Classics 発売日 2005/11/25
16-Bit CD音質 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mendelssohn & Bruch: Concertos pour violon (Mono Version)
Yehudi Menuhin, Philharmonia Orchestra, Efrem Kurtz
Miscellaneous - BNF Collection 発売日 1959/01/01
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Lac des cygnes, extraits (Stereo Version)
Yehudi Menuhin, Philharmonia Orchestra, Efrem Kurtz
Miscellaneous - BNF Collection 発売日 1960/01/01
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Respighi, Rossini: La boutique fantasque, extraits (Mono Version)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Efrem Kurtz
Miscellaneous - BNF Collection 発売日 1958/01/01
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Symphonies Nos. 1 & 5
Efrem Kurtz, Philharmonia Orchestra, André Previn, Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO)
Symphonic Music - Warner Classics 発売日 2008/07/07
16-Bit CD音質 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Borodin: Danses polovtsiennes - Khachaturian: Extraits de Gayaneh (Mono Version)
New York Philharmonic, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Efrem Kurtz
Miscellaneous - BNF Collection 発売日 1960/01/01
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Le lac des cygnes, extraits (Mono Version)
Philharmonia Orchestra, Efrem Kurtz, Yehudi Menuhin
Miscellaneous - BNF Collection 発売日 1959/01/01
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Ballets (extraits)
Efrem Kurtz, Philharmonia Orchestra, Yehudi Menuhin
Classical - Warner Classics 発売日 2001/05/15
16-Bit CD音質 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Henryk Wieniawski Violin Concerto No.2
Isaac Stern, Efrem Kurtz, New York Philharmonic
Classical - In Vinyl We Trust 発売日 2022/09/30
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky Ballet Music
John Hollingsworth, Efrem Kurtz, Anatole Fistoulari
Ballets - Editions Audiovisuel Beulah 発売日 2024/01/12
16-Bit CD音質 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Shostakovich: Symphonie No. 9 (Mono Version)
New York Philharmonic, Efrem Kurtz
Miscellaneous - BNF Collection 発売日 1953/01/01
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mendelssohn & Bruch: Violin Concertos
Philharmonia Orchestra, Efrem Kurtz, Yehudi Menuhin, Walter Susskind, Berliner Philharmoniker, Wilhelm Furtwängler
Pop - Acid Spirits Records 発売日 2023/02/17
16-Bit CD音質 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
António Victorino d'Almeida (Memória 1)
António Victorino D'Almeida, Orquestra da Emissora Nacional, Efrem Kurtz
Classical - MPMP 発売日 2023/10/05
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Khachaturian: Gayaneh, suites de ballet (Mono Version)
New York Philharmonic, Efrem Kurtz
Miscellaneous - BNF Collection 発売日 1952/01/01
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: La Belle au bois dormant, extraits (Mono Version)
Philharmonia Orchestra, Efrem Kurtz, Yehudi Menuhin
Miscellaneous - BNF Collection 発売日 1961/01/01
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Les dix plus belles marches (Mono Version)
Philharmonia Orchestra, Efrem Kurtz
Miscellaneous - BNF Collection 発売日 1961/01/01
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Les dix plus belles marches (Stereo Version)
Philharmonia Orchestra, Efrem Kurtz
Miscellaneous - BNF Collection 発売日 1961/01/01
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Khachaturian: Extracts from Gayaneh (Mono Version)
New York Philharmonic, Efrem Kurtz
Miscellaneous - BNF Collection 発売日 1957/01/01
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Stravinsky: Petrouchka (1947 Version, Mono Version)
Philharmonia Orchestra, Efrem Kurtz
Miscellaneous - BNF Collection 発売日 1962/01/01
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Shostakovich: Symphonie No. 9 (Mono Version)
New York Philharmonic, Efrem Kurtz
Miscellaneous - BNF Collection 発売日 1953/01/01
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Stravinsky: Pétrouchka, scènes burlesques en quatre tableaux (Mono Version)
Philharmonia Orchestra, Efrem Kurtz
Classical - BNF Collection 発売日 1958/01/01
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo