Sidor Belarsky

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Sidor Belarsky
Born
Isidor Livshitz

(1898-12-27)December 27, 1898
Kryzhopil, Ukraine
Died7 June 1975(1975-06-07) (aged 76)
NationalityUkrainian
Alma materPetersburg State Conservatory
OccupationOpera singer (basso)
Spouse(s)Clarunia
(Oct. 17, 1900-Feb. 21, 1980) [1]
ChildrenIsabel

Sidor Belarsky, born Isidor Livshitz (December 27, 1898[Note 1] – June 7, 1975), was an internationally recognized Ukrainian-American opera singer, educator and interpreter of Judaic folk songs, Chassidic Nigunim and Judaic cantorial music [6]

Biography

External audio
audio icon You may hear Sidor Belarsky performing Judaic songs Here on fau.edu
audio icon You may hear Sidor Belarsky performing in "Seder Nights with Sidor Belarsky" Here on soundcloud.com

Sidor Belarsky was Born to a Jewish family in Kryzhopil, Ukraine.[8] He emigrated with his wife Clarunia and daughter Isabel to the United States in February 1930[9][10] or 1931.[11] Initially, his family was automatically detained at Ellis Island since the United States did not maintain diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union at that time.[12][11][10]

Belarsky first pursued musical studies at the Odessa Conservatory and in Berlin.[13] He later graduated from the State Conservatory at Leningrad in 1929 and soon emerged as a soloist with the Kirov Opera company as well as a leading basso with the Leningrad State Opera Company.[14][15][16][17]

After arriving in the United States in 1930 while on a concert tour, he was invited by Franklin S. Harris to join the faculty at Brigham Young University, where taught vocal music from 1930-1933.[15] He was also on the faculty at the University of Utah.[18][15] He soon established residency in Los Angeles from 1932-1936 where he concertized with the Los Angeles Symphony at the Hollywood Bowl in productions of Boris Godunov and Eugene Onegin.[19][20] While in Los Angeles he also founded the American Opera Company.[19][20] He later acquired a faculty position as Professor of Music at the Jewish Teachers Seminary - Herzliah Institute in New York City while continuing to concertize in Europe, the Middle East, Canada and South America.[20][18]

Throughout his career, Belarsky concertized extensively in the United States as a leading basso with several operatic companies including: Chicago Civic Opera, San Francisco Opera, the American Opera Company of Los Angeles and the New York City Center Opera iin a production of Tosca in 1944.[15][16] In South America, he also appeared at Teatro Municipal in Rio De Janeiro and Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires.[15] During the 1949-1950 concert season, Belarsky also toured extensively in South Africa and Israel performing a repertoire of Jewish folk music.[21]

Carnegie Hall

He appeared as a concert soloist at New York City's Carnegie Hall[22] in over 22 solo performances between 1931 and 1961 and also appeared with the NBC Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Arturo Toscannini in a performance of Beethoven's opera Fidelio. [15][16][23][24] By 1944 Belarsky also emerged in the Broadway Theatre as a member of the cast in the revival of several operas by Giacomo Puccini at the Center Theatre including: La Tosca and La Boheme.[25] As part of his encore presentations in the concert hall, Belarsky often included the work "Mayn rueh plats" ("My quiet place") by the poet Morris Rosenfeld.[26]

Along with many leading cantors of his time, Belarsky concertized in an effort to raise funds for the Zionist cause as the oppression of the Nazi regime in Germany accelerated in the 1930s.[27] In 1948 Belarsky performed in Israel while celebrating its founding and contributed to the documentary film Shalom Israel in 1951.[19] His recording of "Dem Milners Trern" ("The Miller's Tears"), a Yiddish folk song composed by M. M. Warshavsky, was featured in the Coen brothers's film, A Serious Man.[28] The song's subject is the expulsion of Jews from hundreds of villages in Czarist Russia.[29] In 1954 he performed in a concert sponsored by the Association to Perpetuate the Memory of Ukrainian Jews before a packed house at New York City's Town Hall.[30] During the 1957-1958 concert season he emerged once again in South Africa in recitals of Yiddish and Hebrew songs.[31]

During the 1940's Belarsky also recorded several popular Ukrainian/Russian folk songs in collaboration with the accordionist John Serry and the Mischa Borr Orchestra for the RCA Victor label which included: "Dark Night (# 26-5037, 1946) by Nikita Bogoslovsky, "By the Cradle" (# 26-5035, 1946) by Aleksandre Alekseevich Olenin, "Katusha" (# 26-5035, 1946) by Hy Zaret and "Hobo Song" (aka "Mother") (# 26-5037, 1946) by Valerii Viktorovich Zhelobinsky.[32]

Belarsky's recordings of Judaic folk songs were made on several labels including RCA Victor, Artistic Enterprises and Besa Records.[33][34]

Along with Jan Peerce and Richard Tucker, Sidor Belodsky has been credited with helping to keep Yiddish folk songs alive both onstage and in recordings during the 20th century.[35] His admirers included several leading Jewish intellectuals including: Albert Einstein, President Zalman Shazar of Israel and Eli Wiesel.[36]

Death

External image
image icon Image of Sidor & Clarunia Belarsky's gravestones
Here on findagrave.com

Sidor Belarsky died at the age of 77 in 1975 at North Shore Hospital in Manhasset, Long Island in New York.[37][6]

Performance style

Sidor Belarsky received critical acclaim for his performances as an operatic basso baritone. The Billboard magazine noted that his performance with the Mischa Borr Orchestra exemplified a resonant, exhilarating voice within a wide tonal range which reflected a true expression of Russian folk music.[38]

It has also been observed that Belarsky utilized his classical training as an operatic basso to interpret Yiddhish folk songs and Jewish art music with a finely controlled approach.[39] This seriousness of tone and classical formality differentiates his work from performances typically found in the traditional Yiddhish musical theater and the synagogue.[39] His vocal warmth and musicality is said to have struck a chord with American Jews of multiple generations.[39]

Discography

Sidor Belarsky's extensive discography includes over 75 recordings of Judaic folk songs including:[40]

  • Forward 70th Anniversary: Sidor Belarsky Sings of the Hopes and Dreams of the East Side, Lazar Weiner, piano. Artistic Enterprises, Inc. (c. 1967) (presented by the Forward Association and The Workmen's Circle)
  • Seder Nights With Sidor Belarsky - Artistic Enterprises Inc (# B-112) Sidor Belarsky performing songs for the Seder.[34]
  • Songs of the Steppes - RCA Victor (S-49, 1947) - Sidor Belarsky performs Russian folk music with the Miscah Borr Orcheatra.[38]
  • Dem Milner's Trern - Victor (9043, 1938) & RCA Victor (25-5010, 1947) - Sidor Belarsky performs this Judaic folk song.[41]

Archived works

  • The National Library of Israel has archived Belarsky's album Seder Nights With Sidor Belarsky which is available via online streaming.[34]
  • The Dartmouth Jewish Sound Archive at Dartmouth College has archived several of Belarsky's performances of music for Chanuka.[42]
  • The Special Collections Department of the Florida Atlantic University Library has archived Belarsky's performances of Judaic songs which are accessible through online streaming in the university's Recorded Sound Archives [40]
  • The Discography of American Historical Recordings at the University of California, Santa Barbara has archived master recordings of performances by Sidor Belarsky collaborating with the accordionist John Serry and the Mischa Borr Orchestra .[32]
  • The Brigham Young University Library has archived papers, photographs and recordings by Sidor Belarsky from the years 1900-1986 within the L. Tom Perry Special Collections [43]

Filmography

Notes

  1. ^ Belarsky's Social Security record gives his birth date as December 27, 1898,[2] which is also the date on his US naturalization record[3] and various Brazilian immigration cards.[4][5] His age cited in his obituary, 76,[6] also corresponds to this birthdate. His gravestone has the birthdate February 23, 1900.[7]

See also

Secular Jewish music
Jewish music
Jewish art music

References

  1. ^ Cluarina Belarsky on findagrave.com
  2. ^ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JBTM-422 : 7 January 2021), Sidor Belarsky, Jun 1975; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
  3. ^ "New York, Southern District, U.S District Court Naturalization Records, 1824-1946", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7TRC-R6N2 : 8 March 2021), Sidor or Israel Belarsky or Lifschitz, 1938.
  4. ^ "Brasil, Cartões de Imigração, 1900-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VJ15-PKF : 4 March 2021), Sidor Belarsky, Immigration; citing 1945, Arquivo Nacional, Rio de Janeiro (National Archives, Rio de Janeiro).
  5. ^ "Brasil, Cartões de Imigração, 1900-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRQN-18Z : 4 March 2021), Sidor Belarsky, Immigration; citing 1954, Arquivo Nacional, Rio de Janeiro (National Archives, Rio de Janeiro).
  6. ^ a b c "Sidor Belarsky". Daily News. New York, NY. June 9, 1975. p. 71. Retrieved March 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ "Sidor Belarsky". Find a Grave. Retrieved March 6, 2022. Sidor Belarsky beloved husband and father Feb. 23, 1900 – June 7, 1975
  8. ^ Belarsky History Archived 2011-05-29 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ National Park Service - Ellis island - This Month In History February 8-14 Sidor Belarsky enters Ellis Island in 1930 on nps.gov
  10. ^ a b Children of Ellis Island. Moreno, Barry. Arcadia, 2005 p. 121 Sdior Belarsky on Google Books
  11. ^ a b "Sidor Belarsky Dead at 76". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. June 9, 1975.
  12. ^ "Sidor Belarsky". Recorded Sound Archives.
  13. ^ Bringham Young University Special Collections - Biography of Sidor Belarsky on lib.byu
  14. ^ Biography of Sidor Belarsky at Florida Atlantic University
  15. ^ a b c d e f Brigham Young University Special Collections - Biography of Sidor Belarsky on lib.byu
  16. ^ a b c Ellis Island Interviews: Immigrants Tell Their Stories In their Own Words. Coan, Peter M. Fall River Press, 1997 p. 268 Interview & biography of Isabel Belarsky - daughter of Sidor Belarsky on Google Books
  17. ^ "Jewish Frontier" Labor Zionist Letters Inc. 1995 p. 22 Sidor Belarsky On Google Books
  18. ^ a b YIVO Institute for Jewish Music - Biography of Sidor Belarsky on yivoarchives
  19. ^ a b c Savethemusic.com Biography of Sidor Belarsky
  20. ^ a b c Biography of Sidor Belarsky - Florida Atlantic University
  21. ^ Edelman, Marsha Bryan. "Exploring the Rich Tradition of Jewish Music", Music Educators Journal, Vol 77, No. 1, (Sept. 1990) p.185 JSTOR https://www.jstor.org/stable/23604623 Sidor Belarsky on JSTOR
  22. ^ The New York Times, December 28, 1941 p. 31 "Jewish Songs Sung by Sidor Belarsky; Basso Cantante's Carnegie Hall Program Composed Entirely of Hebrew Selections" on Google Books
  23. ^ "Jewish Frontier" Labor Zionist Letters Inc. 1995 p. 22 Sidor Bealrsky On Google Books
  24. ^ The Metropolitan Opera Guide To Recorded Opera. Gruber, Paul. 1993 p. 9. 1944 RCA Beethoven's opera Fidelio conducted by Arturo Toscaninni with Sidor Blearski on Google Books
  25. ^ Playbill - Sidor Belarsky Performer in La Tosca and La Boheme on Playbill.com
  26. ^ Passport to Jewish Music: Its History, Traditions and Culture. Heskes, Irene. ABc-CLIO, June 1994 p. 208 Sidor Belarsky on Google Books
  27. ^ Zion In The Valley: The Jewish Community In St. Louis. Erlich, Walter. University of Missouri Press, 1997 p. 268 Sidor Belarsky on google.com
  28. ^ a b Sidor Belarsky on allmovie.com
  29. ^ Anthology of Yiddish Songs, ed. Vinkovetszky, et al, Mount Scopus Publications, Magnes Press, vol two, 1984, p. 123
  30. ^ "Congress Bi-weekly" American Jewish Congress, Vol. 21. p. 22 Sidor Belarsky critical reviews on Google Books
  31. ^ Leacock, Stephen. "The Union of South Africa". The American Political Science Review, Vol. 4, No. 4, (Nov. 1910), p. 291 https://www.jstor.org/stable/23602949 Sidor Belarsky on JSTOR
  32. ^ a b Discography of American Historical Recordings: Sidor Belarsky on uscb.edu
  33. ^ Recordings by Sidor Belarsky at Florida Atlantic University
  34. ^ a b c "Seder Nights with Sidor Belarsky" National Library of Israel: "Seder Nights With Sidor Belarsky" - Record album by Sidor Belarsky on soundcloud.com
  35. ^ The Jewish Music Companion: Historical Overview, Personalities, Annotated Folksongs. Pasternack, Velvel, Tara Publications 2002 p 139 ISBN 1-928918-24-7 Sidor belarsky on Google Books
  36. ^ Ellis Islands Famous Immigrants. Moreno, Barry. Arcadia Publications, 2008 p. 68 Sidor Belarsky, Albert Einstein, Eli Wiesel & Zalman Shazar on Googk Books
  37. ^ The New York Times Obituary Sidor Belarsky
  38. ^ a b "The Billboard" June 7, 1947 p. 133 Review of the album "Song of the Steppes" with Sidor Belarsky on Google Books
  39. ^ a b c UCLA Herb Albert School of Music Anthony Russell: Echos of Sidor Belarsky. April 20,2022 Interview by Jeremiah Lockwood with the operatic vocalist Anthony Mordechai Tzvi Russell at the UCLA Herb Albert School of Music on scholofmusic.ucla.edu
  40. ^ a b Recodings by Sidor Belarsky at Florida Atlantic University
  41. ^ Sidor Belarsky on discogs.com
  42. ^ Sidor Belarsky at the Dartmouth Jewish Sound Archive
  43. ^ Brigham Young University Library Special Collections ; Sidor Belarsky on archives.lib.byu.edu

External links

Retrieved from "https://mdwiki.org/wiki/Sidor_Belarsky"