Lubka Kolessa
Lubka Oleksandrivna Kolessa (
Biography
Education
The Kolessa family was a prominent Ukrainian intellectual family living in
Her first lessons came from her grandmother, a pianist who had studied with
.In Vienna she studied at the Musikakademie Wien with Louis Thern and Emil von Sauer where she obtained her diploma in 1920, aged 16. She played as a soloist with the best orchestras and conductors of Europe and soon gained fame as a brilliant pianist.
Concert tours
In 1928, she undertook a triumphal tour to her homeland, at this time now under the administration of Poland. Later in 1928 she recorded as the last classical pianist six pieces for Welte-Mignon (see media).[2] From 1929 to 1930 she studied again with Eugen d'Albert, who had a strong influence on her performance style.
On 21 May 1937, Kolessa appeared on British television, playing a concert while wearing Ukrainian folk dress.[3]
1938 she successfully toured South America. Until 1939 she performed in Europe, recording a number of records for His Master's Voice in Germany.
Kolessa married the British diplomat James Edward Tracy Philipps in Prague on 13 March 1939, the eve of the occupation.[4]
At the peak of her career as a concert pianist she moved 1940 to Ottawa, Ontario. She continued to perform numerous concerts including engagements with the New York Philharmonic.
She continued to tour throughout the Americas and was one of the most notable pianists in those continents. In 1954 she ended her concert activities to devote herself to teaching.
Educator
From 1942 she taught piano at the
Recordings
The Doremi label in 1999 released a set of three
Recently Kolessa's old recordings have been issued. In Karl Bohm's "The Early Years Box" (Warner, 19CD), her rare commercial recording of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No.3, conducted by Karl Bohm/SKD(rec.1939), is included.
Sources
- ISBN 3-7001-3326-X.
- ISBN 3-00-017110-X. p. 216 a. 464
- ISBN 0-8108-1469-2. p. 412.
- ^ The Times Marriage Notices
Media
Lubka Kolessa plays for Welte-Mignon in 1928 Frédéric Chopin: Mazurka No. 23 in D major Op. 33, 2 *ⓘ
External links
- Archives of Lubka Kolessa (Lubka Kolessa fonds, R15440) are held at Library and Archives Canada