1. Shura Cherkassky was a Russian-American concert pianist known for his performances of the romantic repertoire.
14 Facts About Shura Cherkassky
1. 2.
Shura Cherkassky's playing was characterized by a virtuoso technique and singing piano tone.
3.
For much of his later life, Cherkassky resided in London.
4.
Alexander Isaakovich Cherkassky was born in Odessa in 1909.
5.
Shura Cherkassky's family fled to the United States to escape the Russian Revolution.
6.
Conversely, Hofmann suggested Shura Cherkassky should continue giving concerts, and this long association with public performance meant that Shura Cherkassky felt comfortable before an audience.
7.
Hofmann recommended that he practice for four hours every day and Shura Cherkassky did this religiously throughout his life, maintaining an extensive repertoire to an exacting standard.
8.
Shura Cherkassky performed actively until the end of his life, and many of his best recordings were made under live concert recital conditions.
9.
Shura Cherkassky appeared at the Hollywood Bowl with conductors such as Sir John Barbirolli and Leopold Stokowski, and he played the sound track for the Bette Davis 1946 film Deception.
10.
Shura Cherkassky played Stravinsky's Three Pieces from Petrushka for the composer, who advised him to use the 'una corda' pedal for certain loud passages in order to obtain a particular special effect.
11.
Shura Cherkassky's career continued to flourish with appearances at all the great concert venues of the world: the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Herkulessaal in Munich, the Philharmonie in Berlin, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Theatre des Champs-Elysees, at Suntory Hall in Tokyo and with all the world's great orchestras and conductors.
12.
Shura Cherkassky died in London, aged 86, on 27 December 1995.
13.
Over seven decades of his concert career, starting in the 1920s, Shura Cherkassky made a large number of recordings for RCA Victor, Vox, Swedish Cupol label, HMV, DG, Tudor, Nimbus and Decca.
14.
Shura Cherkassky made his last recordings at age 85, in May 1995, seven months before his death.