Isador Goodman AM, frequently misspelled Isidor Goodman, was a South African-Australian Jewish pianist, composer and conductor.
24 Facts About Isador Goodman
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Isador Goodman became a household name in Australia in the 1930s-1970s, taught at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music for 50 years, introduced many Australians to classical music, and contributed hugely to music making in his adopted country.
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Moses Isidore Goodman was born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1909 to musical parents of Jewish descent, who had immigrated from eastern Europe.
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Isador Goodman started studying music early, as well as composing.
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At age seven, Isador Goodman played Mozart's Piano Concerto No 20 in D minor with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra.
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Isador Goodman studied piano at the Royal College of Music with Lloyd Powell, who had been a student of Ferruccio Busoni.
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In 1924, at age 15, Isador Goodman played Liszt's Piano Concerto No 1 in E-flat under Malcolm Sargent.
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Isador Goodman's mother remarried, choosing an uncle of her first husband.
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In 1929 at age 20, Isador Goodman accepted an offer to teach at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music in Sydney, Australia.
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Isador Goodman was to teach at "the Con", on and off, for 50 years.
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In 1931, the English critic Neville Cardus, who knew nothing of the 22-year-old Isador Goodman, attended two of his recitals.
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Isador Goodman became well known in society circles; the Governor of New South Wales Sir Philip Game and Lady Game became his patrons and personal friends.
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One night in May 1932, Isador Goodman was at Government House for dinner with the Games.
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Later in 1932 Isador Goodman toured Australia and New Zealand for the Tait organisation as associate artist for the visiting Scottish tenor Joseph Hislop.
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On 1 July 1932 Isador Goodman was soloist in a concert by the National Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra.
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In 1935 Isador Goodman wrote the musical score for Harry Southwell's film, The Burgomeister.
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Isador Goodman dedicated his New Guinea Fantasy for piano and orchestra to the Australian servicemen.
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In 1956 Isador Goodman played on the opening night of television station TCN9 in Sydney.
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Isador Goodman served as the channel's musical director for two years.
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The Isador Goodman Show ran on Melbourne station HSV-7 from 1956 to 1957.
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Seriously injured in a car crash in 1969, Isador Goodman was sidelined from performing for four years.
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Isador Goodman made a triumphant return to the concert stage with an all-Chopin recital in Sydney in 1973.
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On Sunday, 13 July 1980 Isador Goodman took on the triple role of conductor-soloist-arranger for the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra's concert at the Sydney Opera House which was a spectacular success.
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Isador Goodman performed in a recital at the new Melbourne Concert Hall on 31 July 1982.