Bolesław Kon

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Bolesław Kon (born December 9, 1906 in Warsaw , † June 10, 1936 in Warsaw ) was a Polish pianist of Jewish origin.

life and work

Bolesław Kon was born into a simple Jewish tailor family in Warsaw. He began his musical training during the First World War at the Moscow Conservatory under the direction of Konstantin Igumnov . In 1924 he returned to Poland. He began musical studies with Bolesław Domaniewski at the Frédéric Chopin Music Academy in Warsaw. He then continued his studies at the Warsaw Conservatory, first with Aleksander Michałowski and then with Zbigniew Drzewiecki . In 1928 he graduated with honors.

During his studies Kon became known to the Warsaw public as an extraordinarily talented pianist. At a song recital organized by the Warsaw Music Society in April 1926, he amazed his audience with his masterly style. After graduating from the Warsaw Conservatory, Kon moved to Krakow . There he took over the chair for piano at the Conservatory of the Music Society from 1929 to 1931 . In addition to all of his educational tasks, Kon developed an intensive concert activity. He played as a soloist in symphony concerts in Krakow, Warsaw and other Polish cities and also gave recitals . As witnesses and music critics of his performances explain, Kon felt comfortable in all of the works he performed. He always found the right way to interpret them.

In 1932 Kon took part in the 2nd Chopin Competition at the instigation of Zbigniew Drzewiecki . As a result of this “test of strength” with ninety other participants from 18 countries, he won the third prize and the Polish Radio Prize for the best Polish participant, tied with the Ukrainian pianist Abram Lufer . From then on, Kon’s career developed rapidly. On January 20, 1933, he played the Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor op. 18 by Sergei Rachmaninoff with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra . He presented this work - as one reviewer wrote - "with great ingenuity, with immense purity of technology in details and with the finest taste". A month and a half later he appeared in Warsaw with Chopin's 12 Etudes, Op. 10 . One music critic wrote: “I got the impression that Chopin didn't have to play himself with this kind of style. [...] "

At the end of May and June 1933, Bolesław Kon was in Vienna, where he took part in the International Music Competition. The international jury awarded him the first prize. At the time, Kon referred famous pianists such as Gina Bachauer , Dinu Lipatti , György Sándor and Maria Fotino . The success of Kon in Vienna led to numerous concert invitations to France, the Netherlands, Italy, Romania, Austria and Hungary.

Despite numerous concerts abroad, Kon has cultivated its Polish audience. He eagerly gave concerts organized by the Association of Friends of Early Music, the Polish Society of Contemporary Music and an institution for the promotion of music in the Polish provinces under the name "Organization of the Music Movement" (ORMUZ). Kon's repertoire included works by Sergei Rachmaninow and Fryderyk Chopin. He did not leave any recordings.

Kohn became mentally ill. Religious mania combined with his wealth of internal metaphysical, intellectual and artistic experiences often made him wonder about the meaning of life and his responsibility to himself. He slipped into a deeply depressed state, which led him to suicide in Warsaw in June 1936 .

literature

Individual references and comments

  1. ↑ By drawing lots, B. Kon was awarded the third prize and A. Lufer the fourth prize of the competition. The rules of the competition at that time did not provide “prizes in equal parts” if there was a tie.
  2. ↑ Quotes from: Fryderyk Chopin Information Center: Bolesław Kon. The music critic quoted is not mentioned by name here.
personal data
SURNAME Kon, Boleslaw
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kohn, Bolesław; Cohn, Boleslaw
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Polish pianist
DATE OF BIRTH December 9, 1906
PLACE OF BIRTH Warsaw
DATE OF DEATH June 10, 1936
Place of death Warsaw