Robert Levin (Norwegian pianist)
Robert Levin (6 June 1912 – 29 October 1996) was a
Background
Levin was born in Kristiania (now
Levin caught interest in the piano when he was four and a half years old, at his grandmother's home. By the time he was five, he had taught himself well enough for his first public performance. He did not receive formal lessons until he was ten, and when he was twelve he was accepted by the pre-eminent music teacher of the time, Nils Larsen. Levin did his part to support the family by performing at restaurants, bars, and movie theaters during the silent film era. He only finished the first six years of public schooling. He learned at the synagogue for his
Early professional career
Like many of the classical musicians of pre-World War II era, Levin played at restaurants to support himself. He rose through the unofficial ranks as a teenager, overcoming strong
War years
After
Levin became a proponent of Norwegian music and culture while in exile in Sweden. He wrote the music to several patriotic Norwegian songs, including Kirkenesmarsjen, a march to commemorate the
After the Liberation of Norway the Levin family returned to one of the central train stations in Oslo in June 1945. The orchestra which Robert Levin had to leave nearly three years earlier awaited him at the platform, performing at their arrival.
Post-war career
After the war, Levin decided to concentrate more on a classical career, and after he accompanied Gösta Kjellertz, his career as an accompanist took off. He accompanied such diverse international artists as Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Yehudi Menuhin, Roberta Peters, Rita Streich, Henryk Szeryng, Ann Brown, Kim Borg, Camilla Wicks, Felicia Weathers; and a panorama of Norwegian artists that included Ingrid Bjoner, Knut Skram, Arve Tellefsen, Terje Tønnesen, Elise Båtnes, Aase Nordmo Løvberg, Edith Thallaug, and Ole Bøhn.
Notably, on 22 May 1984, he and American pianist
Levin took part in performing tours all around the world. He became one of the most respected classical musicians of his time in Norway. He took an active part in music education at all ages, led the Norwegian Society of Composers and Lyricists (NOPA), and promoted the art of accompaniment. He was the first rector of the Norwegian Academy of Music when it was founded in 1973, where he was also a professor of interpretation. When the academy moved to its new facilities in Majorstuen in 1989, one of the performance halls was named after Levin.
Awards
Levin received the Houens legat (1951) and Statens kunstnerstipend (1954). Levin was awarded the
Personal life
In 1938, he married Solveig Margrethe Bernstein (1914–2023[10]). They were the parents of journalist, Mona Levin (born 1939). Their daughter, Sidsel Levin (born 1944) was music teacher and cultural facilitator at the Jewish Museum in Oslo. Levin died during 1996 at the age of 84 and was buried at Østre gravlund in Oslo. [11] [12][13] [14]
References
- ^ Bjørn Steenstrup (1973). "Robert Levin". Hvem er Hvem?. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ Egil Baumann. "Robert Levin". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ Einar Solbu. "Robert Levin". Norsk biografisk leksikon. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ "Robert Levin". lokalhistoriewiki.no. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ Tore Pryser. "Svenska Norgehjälpen". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ "Mottakere av Musikkritikerprisen". Norwegian Critics’ Association (Kritikerlaget). Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ "Kongens fortjenstmedalje". lokalhistoriewiki.no. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ "Robert Levin, pianist og Stein Mehren, lyriker og samtidskritiker". Anders Jahres kulturpris. 15 August 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ Svein Jarle Molnes (29 August 2008). "Robert Levin - akkompagnatøren som ble rikskjendis". NRK. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ "Solveig Levin (108) er død". Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ "Solveig Margrethe Levin". lokalhistoriewiki.no. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ "Mona Levin". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ "Mona Levin". lokalhistoriewiki.no. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ "Østre gravlund (Oslo)". lokalhistoriewiki. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
Other sources
- Robert Levin and Mona Levin (1983) Med livet i hendene (Oslo: Cappelen) ISBN 82-02-09034-2