Gabrilowitsch, Ossip (Salomonovich)

Gabrilowitsch, Ossip (Salomonovich), notable Russian-American pianist and conductor; b. St. Petersburg, Feb. 7, 1878; d. Detroit, Sept. 14, 1936. From 1888 to 1894 he was a pupil at the St. Petersburg Cons., studying piano with A. Rubinstein and composition with Navratil, Liadov, and Glazunov. He graduated as winner of the Rubinstein Prize, and then completed his piano training in Vienna with Leschetizky (1894–96). He subsequently toured Germany, Austria, Russia, France, and England. His first American tour (debut Carnegie Hall, N.Y., Nov. 12, 1900) was eminently successful, as were his 7 subsequent visits (1901–16). During the 1912–13 season, he gave in Europe a series of 6 historical concerts illustrating the development of the piano concerto from Bach to the present day; on his American tour in 1914–15, he repeated the entire series in several of the larger cities, meeting with an enthusiastic reception. On Oct. 6, 1909, he married the contralto Clara Clemens (daughter of Mark Twain), with whom he frequently appeared in joint recitals. He conducted his first N.Y. concert on Dec. 13, 1916; was appointed conductor of the Detroit Sym. Orch. in 1918. From 1928 he also conducted the Philadelphia Orch., sharing the baton with Leopold Stokowski, while retaining his Detroit position.

Bibliography

C. Clemens, My Husband G. (N.Y., 1938).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

Gabrilowitsch, Ossip (Salomonovich) (b St Petersburg, 1878; d Detroit, 1936). Russ.-born pianist, composer, and conductor (Amer. cit.). Début Berlin 1896, followed by Eur. tours and Amer. début 1900. Took up cond. c.1905 in Vienna and Paris. Friend of Mahler. Cond. Konzertverein Orch., Munich, 1910–14. Settled NY, 1914, début there as cond. in 1917. Cond., Detroit SO, 1918–35. From 1928 also cond. Philadelphia Orch. Continued annual recital tours of USA as pianist. Comp. pf. pieces, songs, etc. His wife, Clara Clemens, a contralto, was Mark Twain's daughter.