saperton, David

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saperton, David

Sapeiton, David, American pianist and teacher; b. Pittsburgh, Oct. 29, 1889; d. Baltimore, July 5, 1970. He received his first instruction on the piano from his grandfather, a former tenor at the Brünn Opera, while his father, a physician and former concert bass, superintended his theoretical studies. At the age of 10, he made his first public appearance with an orch. in Pittsburgh; in 1905 he gave a recital in N.Y.; from 1910 to 1912 he toured Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Russia, and Scandinavia. In 1924 he joined the piano faculty of the Curtis Inst. of Music in Philadelphia.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire