Efrem Kurtz

Efrem Kurtz (November 7, 1900, Saint Petersburg, Russia – June 27, 1995, London) was a Russian conductor. He studied at the Saint Petersburg conservatory with Alexander Glazunov and Nikolai Tcherepnin, among others. He later studied in Riga, Berlin and in Leipizig, in the last city as a pupil of Arthur Nikisch.

Kurtz made his conducting debut when he substituted for an ill Nikisch to accompany the dancer Isadora Duncan on tour. This led to a number of concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic. From 1924 to 1933 he conducted the Stuttgart Philharmonic, and in 1928, Kurtz was enagaged by Anna Pavlova to accompany her dancing, which he did until her death in 1931. From 1932 to 1942 he was conductor of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, touring with them extensively. His work in Monte Carlo included conducting the premiere of "Gaîté Parisienne".Anderson, Martin, "A Century in Music: Manuel Rosenthal in Conversation" (April 2000). "Tempo" (New Ser.) (212): pp. 31-37.]

Kurtz later moved to the United States, and became a citizen of that country in 1944. He was music director of the Kansas City Philharmonic from 1943 to 1948. [cite news | url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,887294,00.html | title=Success in Kansas City | work=Time | date=2 December 1946 | accessdate=2008-01-04] He held the same post with the Houston Symphony from 1948 to 1954. He also conducted a number of film scores, including Jacques Ibert's score for Orson Welles' "Macbeth".

From 1955 to 1957, Kurtz was music director of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic jointly with John Pritchard. Thereafter he took a number of guest conducting posts, including engagements with orchestras in Leningrad and Moscow in the Soviet Union where he returned for the first time in 1966.

Kurtz was married three times. [cite news | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19950715/ai_n13995008 | title=Obituary: Efrem Kurtz | work=The Independent | author=Noel Goodwin | date=1995-07-15 | accessdate=2008-01-04] He was married to the American flautist Elaine Shaffer until her death in 1973. [cite news | url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20811FD39551A7493CBA81789D85F478785F9 | title=Elaine Shaffer, Flutist, 47, Dies; Toured World Capitals as Soloist | work=New York Times | date=1973-02-19 | accessdate=2008-01-04] After her death, Kurtz married Mary Lynch, who survived him. [cite news | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE7D8113BF93AA15755C0A963958260 | title=Efrem Kurtz, 94, a Conductor In Europe, Kansas and Houston | work=New York Times | author=Allan Kozinn | date=1995-06-29 | accessdate=2008-01-04]

Recordings

His recorded repertoire included works by among others Dmitri Shostakovich (early recordings, though not premieres, of several of the symphonies and the "Age of Gold" ballet suite), Ernest Bloch (one of whose last works, "Two Last Poems (Maybe...)" was dedicated to Elaine Shaffer), Heitor Villa-Lobos (his "Uirapuru"), many of these recordings made in the 1940s and 1950s with the Philharmonia in London. He recorded primarily for Columbia Records and EMI.

References