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Abravanel, Maurice, 1903-1993

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1903 - 1993

Biographical History

Maurice Abravanel (1903-1993) was an American conductor of Spanish-Portuguese descent.

Maurice Abravanel was born on Jan 6, 1903 in Thessaloniki, Greece. In 1901 his family moved to Switzerland where his father worked as a pharmacist. It is here that he gained a love for music.

As a young adult he attended the University of Zurich at the request of his father. He didn't like it there and eventually moved to Germany where he pursued a career in music. In 1933 he moved to Paris, working as music director of Balanchine's Paris ballet. From 1934-36 he worked in Australia conducting Opera's in Sydney Opera House. In 1936, he was hired by New York's Metropolitan Opera, becoming the youngest conductor in the facilities history. His contract was cut short due to internal politics and he worked whatever jobs he could find on Broadway to earn money.

In 1947, he was chosen as director of the Utah Symphony. Here he expanded what was a small unnoticed orchestra into a large group, loved by the people. He worked there until 1978.

He was married three times, first to singer Friedel Schako. They were married 7 years before they divorced in 1940. He then married Lucy Menasse Carasso. They were married until her passing. In 1987, he married Carolyn Firmage in Salt Lake City, Utah. Abravanel had two children.

Abravanel passed away on September 22, 1993 in Salt Lake City, Utah where he is buried.

Citation:
Wikipedia, via WWW, March 11, 2015 (Maurice Abravanel was born on Jan 6, 1903 in Thessaloniki, Greece; family moved to Switzerland where his father worked as a pharmacist; gained a love for music; attended the University of Zurich at the request of his father; moved to Germany where he pursued a career in music; moved to Paris, working as music director of Balanchine's Paris ballet; worked in Australia conducting Opera's in Sydney Opera House; hired by New York's Metropolitan Opera, becoming the youngest conductor in the facilities history; contract was cut short due to internal politics and he worked whatever jobs he could find on Broadway to earn money; he was chosen as director of the Utah Symphony; expanded what was a small unnoticed orchestra into a large group, loved by the people; worked there until 1978; married three times, first to singer Friedel Schako; married 7 years before they divorced in 1940; married Lucy Menasse Carasso; married until her passing; married Carolyn Firmage in Salt Lake City, Utah).

FindaGrave, via WWW, March 11, 2015 (Abravanel had two children; passed away on September 22, 1993 in Salt Lake City, Utah where he is buried).

Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:

Lowell M. Durham papers

 Series
Identifier: MSS 8150
Scope and Contents Contains sheet music, drafts, and clippings by Durham. Includes sheet music for his pieces, as well as compositions by composer Crawford Gates. Collection also contains several materials related to Durham's book on Maurice Abravanel, his research as well on Latter-day Saint musicians, and many newspaper and magazine clippings with news on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Utah Symphony, and music programs at the University of Utah. Some personal papers are also included, such as notes, personal...
Dates: 1920-1994

Lowell M. Durham articles and drafts, 1925-1992

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8150 Series 5
Scope and Contents Contains materials written by and collected by Durham related to Utah and Latter-day Saint music and musicians. Most of the material consists of drafts of chapters from Durham's book on Maurice Abravanel, complete with notes and edits. Also contains some research material, including a few clippings and a list of recordings of the Utah Symphony. There are articles written by Durham and others as well, such as his earlier draft of "The Abravanel Years," the article "Pioneer Symphony" by...
Dates: 1925-1992

Lowell M. Durham papers on Utah musicians, 1940-1991

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8150 Series 2
Scope and Contents Contains files on Durham's colleagues. Includes documents on people like Maurice Abravanel, Crawford Gates, Jay Welch, Varujan Kojian, and Leroy Robertson. A variety of materials are included, such as newspaper clippings of reviews of the works done by these people, notes on their careers, even some correspondence. Includes materials related to the creation of the Leroy Robertson Foundation and the publication of the book on Maurice Abravanel. Some of these relate to the Utah Symphony and...
Dates: 1940-1991

Lowell M. Durham sheet music, 1945-1990

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8150 Series 1
Scope and Contents Contains loose sheet music for compositions by Durham and others. Includes several copies of Durham's piece "Lyric Folk-Scape, Op. 19," as well as the works like "Once in Royal David's City," and "Calm as a Summer's Morn." Also contains copies of music composed by Crawford Gates, such as "Promised Valley," and "O Lord, Do Not Despise Me." There are a few pieces arranged by Durham which were composed by his father, George H. Durham, like the composition "A New England Pastoral Sketch."...
Dates: 1945-1990