Nicolai Berezowsky

Nicolai T. Berezowsky (1900-1953) was a Russian-emigree, American (Russian-born) violinist and composer. He was born in St. Petersburg, Russia on May 17, 1900, graduating from the Imperial Capella with honors sixteen years later. As a young boy singer in the chapel choir, he recalled singing for the Tsar's family and the notorious Rasputin. He tells in the book Duet with Nicky of how the choirboys would tear pages from their hymnals to make spit-balls which they would aim at Rasputin! He later served as musical director of the School of Modern Art in Moscow and as first violinist at the Moscow Grand Opera. In 1922, he made a harrowing escape from the Soviet Union in disguise, only to be arrested in Poland, but thankfully released by an official who remembered hearing him perform. Once settled in New York, Mr. Berezowsky attended the Juilliard School of Music, studying under Paul Kochanski and Rubin Goldmark. He was first violinist with the New York Philharmonic for the first seven years of his U.S. residence. He played in the Coolidge String Quartet from 1935-1940. He was married twice, and died on August 27, 1953 in New York. He was a protege of Serge Koussevitzky, who premiered his symphonies to great acclaim.

Among Berezowsky's works are an opera, Prince Batrak, two symphonies, concertos for harp, violin and 'cello, and many diverse works of chamber music. His recordings include an lp set of Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov, which he conducted. He enjoyed a great success with his children's opera, Babar, and his oratorio, Gilgamesh. According to a contemporary and friend, Lucile Lawrence, Berezowsky's music was very popular in his lifetime and he was at that time a better-known figure than Aaron Copland. He married Alice Newman, a notable pianist, who later published a memoir, "Duet with Nicky" about their early years together (Lippincott). His second wife was Judith Berezowsky.

His Concerto for Harp was commissioned by Edna Phillips, who gave the premiere with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and performed by Carlos Salzedo with the National Orchestra Association under Leon Barzin with an original cadenza by Salzedo, included in the edition published by Theodore Presser. It was not performed again until performances by Saul Davis Zlatkovski in recital and with the St. Paul J.C.C. Symphony Orchestra under James Riccardo in 1990.

• Christmas Festival Overture (Ukrainian Noel) (1943) (8 minutes length)
• Soldiers on the Town (1943) (4 minutes length)
• Fantasy (piano duo and orchestra)(1944) (15 minutes length)
• Sextet Concerto (1951) (16 minutes length)
• Suite No. 2 (woodwind quintet) (16 minutes length)

• Clarinet Concerto op. 28, clarinet and orchestra
• Concerto Lirico op. 19, cello and orchestra
• Suite Hebraique op. 3, full orchestra
• Symphony No.1 op. 12, full orchestra
• Symphony No.2 op. 18, full orchestra
• Symphony No.3 op. 21, full orchestra
• Symphony No.4 op. 29, full orchestra
• Toccata, Variations, and Finale op. 23, full orchestra
• Violin Concerto op. 14, violin and orchestra

• Concerto for Harp and Orchestra, Op. 31

Publisher: Elkan-Vogel, Inc. Instrumentation: Solo Hp.; 3 2 3 2 - 4 2 3 0; Timp. Perc. Hp. Str. Duration: 22'

• Gilgamesh

Cantata for Narrator, Solo Voices, Mixed Chorus and Orchestra Publisher: Mercury Music Corporation Instrumentation: SATB Chorus; 3 3 3 2 - 4 3 3 1; Timp. 3Perc. Pno. Cel. Hp. Str. Duration: 60'

• Introduction and Allegro, Op. 8 for Small Orchestra

Publisher: Theodore Presser Company Instrumentation: 1 1 1 1 - 1 0 0 0; Pno. Str.

• Sinfonietta, Op. 17

Publisher: Theodore Presser Company Instrumentation: 3 2 2 2 - 4 2 3 1; Timp. Perc. Str. Duration: 12'

Sources

• New York Times obituary, published August 28, 1953
• Note from the published edition of his Brass Suite for Seven Instruments, Op. 24

External links

• Nicolai Berezowsky scores (the composer's manuscripts, including unpublished works) in the Music Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.