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Bachauer, Gina

 Person

biographical statement

Citation:
Bachauer International Piano Foundation website, viewed Jul. 19, 2011 (Gina Bachauer; Greek pianist; student of Cortot and Rachmaninoff; developed a close bond with the people of Utah; performed frequently with the Utah Symphony; the Gina Bachauer Archives; Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation; May 21, 1910 in Athens, Greece; began piano lessons age 5 after concert of Emil Sauer; at 9 years old Woldemar Freeman took her on as a student; with him until she finished her studies at the Athens Conservatory age 16, winning the Gold Medal in 1929; to Paris to work with Cortot; parents paid for her to attend the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris; studied for 3 years under Alfred Cortot; met Sergei Rachmaninoff, from whom she received virtually the only lessons he taught after his self-imposed exile from Russia; funds ran out, returned to Greece; debut in 1935 with the Athens Orchestra under Mitropoulos; taught at the Athens Conservatory; concert tour of Europe; World War II broke out; stranded in Cairo for its duration; "kind of pianist-in-ordinary” for the Allied troops, playing roughly 630 recitals in camps and hospitals; married John Christodoulo, who died suddenly in 1950; traveled to London where she was introduced to orchestra conductor Alec Sherman, who engaged her as a soloist; married, and Sherman gave up part of his career to become her manager; London debut, Albert Hall in 1947; New York debut, Carnegie Hall in 1950; 110-120 concerts a year on six-month tours alternating between the USA and the rest of the world; traveled to Utah; close bond with her audiences and the Utah Symphony, under Maurice Abravanel; Her Royal Highness Princess Irene of the Hellenes helped make their first international tour a reality in 1966 when the symphony traveled to Greece, Yugoslavia, Austria, Germany, and England; died in Athens on August 22, 1976; Brigham Young University was the first home of the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition)

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation administrative records, 1976-2006

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 7917 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains audition records, travel records, brochures, publications, public relations records, photographs, application files, newspaper clippings, and other administrative records including financial records, phone bills, committee meeting minutes, and agendas, 1976-2006.

Dates: 1976-2006

Gina Bachauer publicity materials, 1943-1988, 1898

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 7920 Series 3
Scope and Contents This series contains programs, press clippings, reviews, pamphlets, press books, piano competition records, Gina Bachauer postage stamps, biographies, scores, and articles including those for "A Royal Evening," "My Studies with Rachmaninov," "The White Election," memorial concerts for Gina Bachauer, and those concerning Gina Bachauer's work with the Utah Symphony. This series also includes books on the piano and composer biographies, children's books, a book on the Houses of Parliament, and...
Dates: 1943-1988; 1898

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