Skip to main content

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 1 Collection or Record:

Gina Bachauer papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 7920
Scope and Contents

Collection contains personal and professional correspondence from Gina Bachauer, publicity and personal photographs, programs, clippings, articles, and other publicity materials for Gina Bachauer performances, itineraries, contracts, financial records and other administrative records concerning Gina Bachauer's career as a concert pianist, personal belongings and audio recordings of her work, and diaries and appointment books recording her daily activities, 1898, 1928-1989.

Dates: 1898; 1928-1989

Filtered By

  • Subject: Compact discs X
  • Subject: Diaries X