Marian Filar (pianist)

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Marian Filar (December 17, 1917 – July 10, 2012) was a Polish concert pianist and virtuoso composer living in the United States.

Early life

Filar was born in

Warsaw Conservatory with whom he studied until the outbreak of the Second World War
.

Second World War

Filar was imprisoned during

Majdanek, he almost died from malnutrition and infection. He escaped being sent to the gas chambers despite his legs being so swollen from malnutrition that he was barely able to stand. After being liberated by the Polish Army he returned to the piano although he did consider studying medicine.[citation needed
]

Subsequent career

While playing recitals in

Wiesbaden, Germany where he sought advice from the renowned German pianist, Walter Gieseking who told him not to quit piano. Filar studied with Gieseking for five years and toured all over Europe playing recitals and concerts. During this period (1945–50) he also performed very frequently on German and other European radio programs.[citation needed
]

He arrived in the

Chopin's Sonata in B Minor, for the now-defunct Colosseum Record Co. in New York City. He made a second recording of 4 preludes by Karol Szymanowski and Etude No 3 in B flat Minor Opus 3[citation needed
], as well as Franciszek Brzezinski's Theme with Variations.

He debuted in

]

In 2002, he co-authored a book about his life during and after World War II entitled From Buchenwald to Carnegie Hall.[1]

Death

Filar died in Wyncote, Pennsylvania on July 10, 2012, aged 94.[2]

Publications

Marian Filar's other recordings
Composer Piece Orchestra Conductor
Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra Erik Tuxsen
Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor Bavarian Symphony Orchestra
Rafael Kubelik
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto in B flat Major{fact} Washington National Symphony Orchestra Emerson Meyers
Schumann Piano Concerto in A Minor Orchestra Sinfonica, São Paulo, Brasil
Chopin Prelude in D Minor Op. 28 No. 24
Chopin Mazurka in F sharp Minor Op. 6 No 1
Tauriello Toccata
Chopin Nocturne: E flat Major Op.9 no.2
Chopin Nocturne: C sharp Minor Op. 27 No. 1
Chopin Nocturne: D flat Major Op. 27 No 2
Chopin Nocturne: E flat Major Op. 55 No. 2
Chopin Nocturne: E flat Minor Op. 72 No. 1
Chopin Nocturne: C sharp Minor Lento con gran espressione (posthumous)
Chopin
Polonaise
in C flat Minor No. 1
Chopin Nocturne in C flat Minor Op. 27 No. 1[citation needed]
Chopin Ballade No. 1
Chopin Etude in E Major Op. 10 No.3
Chopin Barcarolle Op. 60
Chopin Scherzo in B-flat minor Op. 31 No.2
Chopin Mazurka in C sharp Minor Op. 63 No. 3
Chopin Polonaise in A flat Major No. 6
Chopin Fantasie in F Minor Op. 49

References

  1. ^ "From Buchenwald to Carnegie Hall". University Press of Mississippi. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  2. ^ Naedele, Walter. "Pianist, concentration camp survivor Marian Filar". Philly.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012.