Complete Works for Piano & Orchestra

Abstract

"Something of a cult has been built around him by those in the know;' wrote Harold Schonberg, chief critic of The New York Times, after Abbey Simon's recital at Carnegie Hall on January 19, 1967. He continued, "The audience came knowing in advance that Mr. Simon would play impeccably, sensitively, smoothly, elegantly. He disappionted nobody. Everything on the pro¬gram demonstrated pianism and sheer control of a miraculous order!' The New York World Journal Tribune critic wrote of the same performance, "Hypnotic—it had to be heard to be believed. A pianist completely devoid of showy mannerisms, yet somehow possessing one of the finest, most completely hypnotic virtuoso techniques of the day. Few can come up with so much color!' Abbey Simon's spectacular return to the United States in 1960, after having lived in Europe for ten years, m^de headlines in the music world and prompted The New York Times to say, "He left this country a skillful pianist. He has returned a master. He begins where most pianists leave off Since that memorable evening, one triumph has followed another, and Simon has played ex¬tensively in this country and abroad. Audiences from Paris to Bombay, from South Africa to South America, from New York, Boston, Chicago and Washington across the country to Dallas, Omaha and Los Angeles have seen Simon walk to the stage, sit on the specially built slanting chair of the late Josef Hofmann and proceed with a minimum of body motion to "dazzle and toss off the most fearsome difficulties with bravura and sweep." Abbey Simon belongs to that select number of musicians who have successfully made the dif¬ficult transition from child prodigy to mature artist. Born in New York City, his unique talent showed up at an early age. At eight, he so impressed Josef Hofmann, who was the Director of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, that he was immediately awarded a scholarship in composition at the Institute. A piano scholarship soon followed. At nineteen, the young pianist won the coveted Walter W. Naumburg Foundation Award, and his New York debut was given at Town Hall under its sponsorship. Simon has also been honored with the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Medal and a citation proclaiming him to be the outstanding American concert artist in Europe.