Istomin, Eugene (George)

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Istomin, Eugene (George)

Istomin, Eugene (George), distinguished American pianist; b. N.Y., Nov. 26, 1925. He began piano lessons as a child with Kiriena Siloti, and then studied at the Mannes Coll. of Music in N.Y.; at 12, he entered the Curtis Inst. of Music in Philadelphia, where he was a student of Serkin and Horszowski. After winning the Philadelphia Orch. youth competition, he appeared with that orch. under Ormandy’s direction as soloist in Chopin’s second Piano Concerto on Nov. 17, 1943. He also won the Leventritt Award, which led to his first appearance as soloist with the N.Y. Phil. under Rodzinski’s direction in Brahms’s second Piano Concerto on Nov. 21, 1943. In succeeding years, he was engaged as a soloist with principal American orchs. and was active as a recitalist. From 1956 he made regular tours abroad. He also played in the renowned Stern-Rose-Istomin Trio from 1961 until Rose’s death in 1984. In 1975 he married Casals’s widow Martita. Istomin was one of the leading pianists of his generation.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/ Laura Kuhn/ Dennis McIntire

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