Zavel Kwartin

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Zevulun "Zavel" Kwartin
Born(1874-03-25)March 25, 1874
Elisabetgrad, Ukraine
DiedOctober 3, 1952(1952-10-03) (aged 78)
New York, United States
GenresJewish music
Occupation(s)Cantor, Hazzan, Singer, Composer, Conductor

Zevulun "Zavel" Kwartin (

chazzan (cantor) and composer, a contemporary of Mordechai Hershman. Part of his family fled to Brazil during World War II. They have descendants in the northeastern region of Brazil, more precisely in the state of Ceará
.

Kwartin gave his first concert in the synagogue of his hometown in 1896. In 1897 he moved to

Vilna and Białystok. In 1910 he moved to Budapest to become chazzan at the Dohány Street Synagogue. In 1914 he was offered a tournee through the USA, but he was hindered by the outbreak of World War I.[1]

Cantor Kwartin was endowed with a beautiful, rich expressive tenor voice with an astounding range and the agility to sing rapid coloratura. His superb voice and elaborate compositions garnered him international renown as both a chazzan and composer. A Musical Courier newspaper article dated May 6, 1920 lists a concert he gave with his daughter, Anna Kwartin, coloratura soprano, at the Metropolitan Opera House on April 27, 1920, before an audience of 4,000 people. The article states: "Sawil Kwartin, Cantor Tenor, who enjoys a big reputation throughout European countries, gave a debut recital in the Metropolitan Opera House on Tuesday Evening, April 27. He was given an ovation upon entering the stage, and it required considerable time before he was able to sing his opening number. Following this, the audience bestowed enthusiastic applause which did not subside until an encore was given."[2] His grand daughter Evelyn Lear also became a successful soprano.

References

  1. ^ Gregor Gatscher-Riedl: Die vergoldete Stimme - Der Kantor Zevulin Kwartin - zwischen Neudeggergasse und New York. In: David, Jüdische Kulturzeitschrift, Nr. 126/2020, S. 80-82, available on davidkultur.at
  2. ^ "The Music Magazine-musical Courier". 1920.

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