Smeterlin, Jan

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Smeterlin, Jan

Smeterlin, Jan , Polish-born English pianist; b. Bielsko, Feb. 7, 1892; d. London, Jan. 18, 1967. He was a child prodigy, making his public debut at the age of 8. After studies with Godowsky in Vienna, he toured throughout Europe and the U.S. (from 1930), eventually settling in London just before the outbreak of World War II; became a naturalized British subject. He was praised for his congenially Romantic interpretations of Chopin’s music; celebrated his 50th anniversary as a concert artist at London’s Wigmore Hall in 1951.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire