KOUSSEVITZKY (frequently spelled Kusevitsky), MOSHE

KOUSSEVITZKY (frequently spelled Kusevitsky ), MOSHE (1899–1966), ?azzan. Born in Smorgon, near Vilna, Koussevitzky became ?azzan in the Great Synagogue of Vilna in 1924. He succeeded Gershon *Sirota at the Tlomackie Street synagogue in Warsaw in 1927. At the outbreak of World War ii he escaped to Russia where he sang in Russian, Polish, and Yiddish and appeared in opera. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1947, toured widely in America, South Africa, and Israel and in 1952 became ?azzan in Temple Beth El, Brooklyn. His public appearances in synagogues and concert halls and his recordings brought him renown as a graceful and powerful lyric tenor with a particularly fine upper register. Koussevitzky was popularly regarded as the greatest ?azzan of his time. He died in the U.S. but his body was taken to Jerusalem for burial. His three brothers were all notable ?azzanim: jacob (1903–1959) held positions in Lvov, London, Winnipeg, and New York; simcha (1905–1998) officiated in Rovno, Glasgow, London, Johannesburg and, from 1952, in Cape Town; david (1911–1985) was ?azzan in Rovno, London where he also lectured in ?azzanut at Jews' College, and, from 1949, in Temple Emanu-El, Boro Park, Brooklyn, New York. Moshe's only son, alexander (1927– ), also became a ?azzan.

bibliography:

E. Zaludkowski, Kultur Treger fun der Yidisher Liturgie (1930), 337–9; Jewish Ministers Cantors' Association of America, 50 Yoriger Yoyvl Zhurnal (1947), s.v.; G. Saleski, Famous Musicians of Jewish Origin (1949), 596–7; N. Stolnitz, Negine in Yidishen Lebn (1957), 43–57; Yedi'ot ha-Makhon ha-Yisre'eli le-Musikah Datit, 8 (1966), 264–89.

[Joshua Leib Ne'eman]