Jan Smeterlin
Encyclopedia
Jan Smeterlin was a Polish concert pianist. He is especially known as an interpreter of Chopin and Karol Szymanowski
.
while studying in Vienna, Austria. Godowsky was to be one of Smeterlin’s most important teachers. Smeterlin made his professional debut in 1920.
Smeterlin was a cooking enthusiast and authored a book of recipes. The book was published posthumously. In his later years, Smeterlin and Didi, his wife, lived in New York
. Shortly after the couple returned to London in 1967, Smeterlin died.
composer Karol Szymanowski
. The two were both colleagues and friends, and Szymanowski dedicated of a volume of mazurek
s to Smeterlin and later published the pair’s letters to each other. Smeterlin frequently performed Szymanowski's works.
, Mace, Allegro, Polydor, and RCA Victor
recording labels.
Karol Szymanowski
Karol Maciej Szymanowski was a Polish composer and pianist.-Life:Szymanowski was born into a wealthy land-owning Polish gentry family in Tymoszówka, then in the Russian Empire, now in Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine. He studied music privately with his father before going to Gustav Neuhaus'...
.
Life
Smeterlin performed his first concert at age seven, but despite exhibiting talent in his youth, he was forced to study law. He won a scholarship to study with pianist Leopold GodowskyLeopold Godowsky
Leopold Godowsky was a famed Polish American pianist, composer, and teacher. One of the most highly regarded performers of his time, he became known for his theories concerning the application of relaxed weight and economy of motion in piano playing, principles later propagated by Godowsky's...
while studying in Vienna, Austria. Godowsky was to be one of Smeterlin’s most important teachers. Smeterlin made his professional debut in 1920.
Smeterlin was a cooking enthusiast and authored a book of recipes. The book was published posthumously. In his later years, Smeterlin and Didi, his wife, lived in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Shortly after the couple returned to London in 1967, Smeterlin died.
Szymanowski
Over the course of his career, Smeterlin maintained a close relationship with PolishPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
composer Karol Szymanowski
Karol Szymanowski
Karol Maciej Szymanowski was a Polish composer and pianist.-Life:Szymanowski was born into a wealthy land-owning Polish gentry family in Tymoszówka, then in the Russian Empire, now in Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine. He studied music privately with his father before going to Gustav Neuhaus'...
. The two were both colleagues and friends, and Szymanowski dedicated of a volume of mazurek
Mazurka
The mazurka is a Polish folk dance in triple meter, usually at a lively tempo, and with accent on the third or second beat.-History:The folk origins of the mazurek are two other Polish musical forms—the slow machine...
s to Smeterlin and later published the pair’s letters to each other. Smeterlin frequently performed Szymanowski's works.
Recordings
Smeterlin recorded more of Chopin’s music than any other composer. Over his career, Smeterlin recorded for the PhilipsPhilips Records
Philips Records is a record label that was founded by Dutch electronics company Philips. It was started by "Philips Phonographische Industrie" in 1950. Recordings were made with popular artists of various nationalities and also with classical artists from Germany, France and Holland. Philips also...
, Mace, Allegro, Polydor, and RCA Victor
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
recording labels.