Magaloff, Nikita

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Magaloff, Nikita

Magaloff, Nikita, distinguished Russian-born Swiss pianist and teacher; b. St. Petersburg, Feb. 21, 1912; d. Vevey, Dec. 26,1992. His family left Russia after the Revolution. He enrolled in the Paris Cons, as a student of Isidor Philipp, graduating with a premier prix at the age of 17. He also studied composition with Prokofiev in Paris. In 1939 he settled in Switzerland, and in 1947 made his first American tour; also toured Europe, South America, South Africa, etc. From 1949 to 1960 he taught piano at the Geneva Cons., then gave summer courses at Taormina, Sicily, and at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena. In 1956 he became a naturalized Swiss citizen. He was renowned for his lyrico-dramatic interpretations of Chopin, with lapidary attention to detail. He was also a composer, numbering among his works a Piano Toccata, Violin Sonatina, songs, and cadenzas for Mozart’s piano concertos. He was the son-in-law of Joseph Szigeti.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire