Sergei Tarnowsky

Sergei Tarnowsky (3 November 1883, Kharkiv, Russian Empire — 22 March 1976, Los Angeles, California) was a Russian and American pianist, distinguished music pedagogue, and first husband of Alexander Glazunov's adopted daughter, pianist Elena Glasunow (1905—1999). He is renowned as the first principal teacher of young Vladimir Horowitz (before the 16-year-old genius went to his core mentor, F. M. Blumenfeld). Tarnowsky relocated to the USA in 1930 and taught at DePaul University School Of Music in Chicago (1933 to 1950) and later privately in California. Born in Kharkiv Governorate in the Russian Empire (modern Ukraine), Sergey began taking private lessons at eight with Polish pianist Henryk Bobiński (1861—1914), the Warsaw Conservatory graduate. In 1902, Sergei Tarnkovskiy enrolled in the St. Petersburg Conservatory, studying under Anna Yesipova; he graduated with honors, earning a gold medal and the prestigious Anton Rubinstein Prize. Tarnowsky soon began teaching in Odesa, where he performed as a soloist under the conductor Vasily Ilyich Safonov. Impressed by his talents, Safonov arranged a European concert tour for Tarnowsky with Berliner Philharmoniker, performing Tchaikovsky's and Rachmaninoff's concertos and Arensky's Fantasy. In Rome, Sergei played Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 1, earning the compliments of Cosima Wagner (1837—1930), Franz Liszt's daughter and second wife of Richard Wagner, who was in the audience. Besides piano, Tarnovsky became interested in conducting and worked alongside Albert Coates at Mariinsky Theatre. The First World War interrupted his concert career, and between 1914 and 1919, Sergei Tarnowsky served as a professor at Kiyv Conservatory. He taught 11-year-old Vladimir Horowitz, Alexander Uninsky, Vladimir Yampolsky, and Anatole Kitain. In February 1928, Tarnowsky married Elena Glasunow (1905—1999), the adopted daughter of Alexander Glazunov, the director of St. Petersburg Conservatory; both families soon relocated to Paris, where Sergei managed his father-in-law's business affairs and negotiated a US concert tour for Glazunov with Sol Hurok. In 1930, Sergei Tarnowsky and Elena Glasunova emigrated to the United States. He joined the DePaul University School Of Music faculty in Chicago in 1933, where he worked for the next 17 years, subsequently promoted to Head of Piano Department. Tarnowsky naturalized as a US citizen in 1938 (with his DePaul colleague, violinist Richard Czerwonky, signing the paperwork as a witness). Sergei Tarnowsky continued regularly performing, appearing on stage with Nathan Milstein, William Primrose, and Raya Garbousova, among others. In February 1940, he recorded a 78 RPM gramophone album of Tchaikovsky's songs on RCA Victor Red Seal with soprano Maria Kurenko. In May 1950, Tarnowsky married for the second time to one of his students, Maxine Matlevish (1924—1975), who was 41 years younger. She was a pianist and taught at Rosary College in River Forest, Illinois; the same year, Sergei retired from DePaul University. They moved to Southern California, where Tarnowsky taught privately until his death. Some of his students in later years included Cuban-born virtuoso Horacio Gutiérrez, Nadya Gordon, Anna Lou Dehavenon, and Madeleine Stowe.