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Shura Cherkassky collection (MSS 18)

Notifications

Held at: Curtis Institute of Music Archives [Contact Us]1720 Locust St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Curtis Institute of Music Archives. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Russian-born pianist Shura (Alexander) Cherkassky studied at the Curtis Institute of Music under Josef Hofmann and received his diploma in 1935. Known as a romantic pianist, he made numerous recordings and toured worldwide.

The collection is arranged into the following series: 1. Programs 2. Scrapbooks and clippings 3. Personal and family papers 4. Memorabilia and miscellaneous materials 5. Photographs

Gift of Shura Cherkassky's family

Publisher
Curtis Institute of Music Archives
Finding Aid Author
Kristina Wilson
Finding Aid Date
2016
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Collection Inventory

Programs, 1923-1995.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Supplementary Peabody Recital (2 photocopies) March 10, 1923 Tokyo recitals, Hibiya Hall (2 photocopies) September 23,25,26,30, 1935 Wilshire Ebell Theatre June 23, 1942 Concerts-Club Lausanne November 27, 1966 Cape Town Concert Club March 15, 1967 Durban Symphony Orchestra March19, 1967 SABC Symphony [Johannesburg] March 28, 1967 Pro Arte, Hamburg December 4, 1967 London Symphony Orchestra January 30, February 1, 1968 Camden Festival [London] March 7, 1968 Birmingham Triennial Musical Festival September 20, 1968 Kulturring Carl Zeiss April 27-28, 1969 Queen Elizabeth Hall, London November 1, 1970 Salzburger Festspiele 1972 August 6, 1972 Edinburgh Festival August 21, 1972 Hong Kong Arts Festival February 8, 1974 Münster, Klavierabend, Hörsaalgebäude der Universität October 1, 1974 Frankfurter Kunstgemeinde January 20, 1975 Rotterdam Meesterserie 75/76 December 9, 1975 7. Meisterkonzert der Stadt Düsseldorf January 25, 1976 6. Meisterkonzert, Wuppertal-Elberfeld January 27, 1976 Onkyo Magazine 2/1976 announcing Bunka Hall performance February 9, 1976 Japan Broadcast Workers performance February 18. [1976?] 26. Konstanzer Internationale Musiktage 1976 June 25, 1976 Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Charity Concert November 19, 1976 Staatsorchester Pfälzische Philharmonie January 7-8-9-10-11-13, 1977 Baltimore Symphony Orchestra September 28-29, 1977 Bamberger Symphoniker December 11, 1977 Queen Elizabeth Hall, London May 18, 1978 Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin May 28-29-30, 1978 Bol´sho Zal Konservatori [Moscow] February 20, 1979 Bol´sho Zal Konservatori [Moscow] February 24, 1979 Wiener Symphoniker February 15, 1980 Aldeburgh Festival 1980 June 9, 1980 University of Toronto Chopin Festival October 19, 1980 Miami-Dade Community College (2 copies) October 22, 1980 Royal Festival Hall November 30, 1980 [London?] May 2, 1981 Portland [Ore.] State University May 7, 1981 New Zealand Symphony Orchestra recital series June 8-10-16, 1981 Orchester der Hansestadt Lübeck January 10-11, 1982 Wigmore Hall Russian Series (2 copies) February 20, 1982 San Francisco Performances Inc. April 18, 1982 Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra October 17, 1982 Wiener Symphoniker December 1-2, 1982 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra February 22, 1983 City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra March 29, 1983 Carnegie Hall, American Symphony Orchestra November 13, 1983 The Curtis Institute of Music, sixtieth anniversary April 16-22, 1984 The Curtis Institute of Music, sixtieth anniversary, gala banquet April 21, 1984 Wadham College, Oxford June 1, 1984 Wigmore Summer Nights June 22, 1985 Proms/BBC Symphony Orchestra September 14, 1985 Carnegie Hall November 19, 1985 National Symphony Orchestra February 13-14-18, 1986 Orchestra national de France February 22, 25, 1986 Bath Festival June 1, 1987 Royal Festival Hall January 31, 1988 Tokyo, Suntory and Casals Halls February 5-7-11-16, 1988 Festival Chopin 88, Mallorca July 31-August 28, 1988 Cartier Master Musician Series [Hong Kong] October 5, 1988 Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra January 5, 1989 Royal Festival Hall February 19, 1989 Amici della Musica, Padova October 9, 1989 Carnegie Hall November 14, 1989 Casino du Rivage, Vevey April 4, 1990 Toronto Symphony July 4-5, 1990 Ravinia (2 copies) July 10, 1990 Mostly Mozart, Lincoln Center July 13-14, 1990 Japan tour brochure (x 2) February 1991 Orchestre symphonique de Montréal April 15, 1991 Cliburn Concerts 1990-91 April 23, 1991 Royal Festival Hall October 13, 1991 11th Annual Four Temples Concert [Baltimore] November 17, 1991 New York Philharmonic Tchaikovsky Celebration [press kit] July 16, 1992 North Wales Music Festival September 25, 1992 Paradise on Water [St. Petersburg] September 5, 1992 Royal Festival Hall International Piano Series 1992 November 22, 1992 Société des Grands Interprètes [Paris] June 7, 1995

Miscellaneous clippings, 1923-1998.
Box 1 Folder 6
Auckland tour scrapbook, 1928 October - November .
Box 2
Hong Kong scrapbook, 1961.
Box 2
Japan scrapbook, 1971.
Box 2

Letter from B. Zeltman, 1921 September 18.
Box 1 Folder 10
Scope and Contents

Sent to Isaac Cherkassky's brother in the United States to obtain help in getting the family out Odessa (typescript, translated)

Isaac Cherkassky, United States passport, 1928 May 17.
Isaac Cherkassky, United States petition for naturalization (photocopy), 1924 August 15.
Isaac Cherkassky, United States passport, 1930 May 14.
Lydia Cherkassky, United States petition for naturalization (photocopy), 1924 August 15.
Lydia Cherkassky, United States passport, 1930 May 14.
Lydia Cherkassky, United States passport, 1935 February 1935.
Lydia Cherkassky, France passport (carte d'identite), 1937 February 24.
Lydia Cherkassky, Bank of America savings passbook, 1945-1953.
Lydia Cherkassky, United States passport, 1953 February 10.
Lydia Cherkassky, United States passport, 1957 June 4.
Lydia Cherkassky, United States Death Certificate, 1961-04-30.
Location

Nice, France

Typescript biography of Cherkassky by Loudon Charlton, circa 1925.
Box 1 Folder 7
Photocopy, ALS to manager Gravestock aboard the S.S. Ormonde to Paris, 1928 December 2.
United States passport, 1959 September 4.
United States passport, 1968 July 8.
United States passport, 1973 May 11.
Automatic Musical Instruments Collectors Association, certificate of membership, 1977 September 1.
United States passport, 1977 December 13.
Soviet bankbook, 1979.
United States passport, 1982 November 26.

Josef Hofmann recital announcement , 1887 June 9.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Princes' Hall, Piccadilly; framed with a pencil sketch of Hofmann at the keyboard, presented to Cherkassky on his 80th birthday by Peter Wadland

Josef Hofmann Steinway Salon concert program, 1925 October 27.
Box 1 Folder 11
Letter from Josef Hofmann to John Barbirolli , 1940 April 2.
Box 1 Folder 11
Scope and Contents

recommending Cherkassky as "prize pupil" (photocopy)

Foreign programs and publications, 1974;1981.
Box 1 Folder 13
Miscellenous memorabilia, 1928-1991.
Box 1 Folder 12
Photographs, 1920-circa 1985.
Drawer A3 File 609
Scope and Contents

(8 x 10" unless noted otherwise)

SC, 9 years old, posed with 20 others at the Steinway Archives, 1920, signed by Henry Z. Steinway SC and unidentified family members (3 poses, 5 x7), Baltimore, June 17, 1923 SC, 12 years old, signed: "To my best friend and the wonderful artist Mme. Mana-Zucca whose compositions I appreciate so much, New York, September 1924", framed SC, professional portrait ca. 1927 SC at the piano with Josef Hofmann standing behind, Curtis Kubey-Rembrandt photo c. 1927 SC posed alone and another pose with his father before a concert hall (75mm copy neg. and contact print of each, 6 x 8 print of one), originals were signed, dated September 26, 1928, possibly Australia tour? SC hunched over the piano, photo torn, sign: "To my dear cousin Dotty with best wishes and much love, sent from Melbourne, Australia, November, 1928" SC with his parents (3 prints, 6 x 8), South Africa tour, Durban, 1931 SC, professional portrait [1950s?] SC, professional portrait, 6 x 8 [1960s?] SC with Harry Odell (Air India photograph) Hong Kong tour, 1961 Unidentified person, possibly Lydia Cherkassky 6x8 C, postcard portrait [1970s?] C at the piano {Carnegie Hall?] Shaw Concerts press kit photo [1980s?] C at the piano {closeup, facing left] Shaw Concerts press kit photo [1980s?] Lydia Cherkassky: 4 poses at various ages ( 6 prints, 6 x 8" or less) Chopin, seated portrait (Instytut Fryderyka Chopina - Warszawa), framed Curtis Institute full-page ad (Etude?, Musical America? ca. 1929) featuring photo of C with 8 others

Print, Suggest