Piano and Pianists

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. The pianist Ignace Tiegerman, known as the 'Lost Legend of Cairo', lived in Egypt all his life. Where was he born? (Country) Russia Poland Czechoslavakia Germany

2. At Vladimir Horowitz' 1965 comeback recital, he had spent many years away from the concert stage. In what year did he retire, as a result of a nervous breakdown caused by spastic colitis? 1949 1953 1937 1952

3. Name the pianist who dazzling recorded Andrei Schulz-Evler's finger busting transcription of Strauss' 'The Beautiful Blue Danube' in 1928. Hint: His wife was a famous pianist and teacher in her own right. Jorge Bolet Josef Hofmann Josef Lhevinne Benno Moiseiwitsch

4. Claudio Arrau, the distinguished Chilean pianist, did a series of historical recitals traversing the complete piano repertoire in what city? Berlin Paris Chicago Mexico

5. Leopold Godowsky wrote celebrated 'Metamorphoses' on the works of what composer? Johann Sebastian Bach Georges Enescu Johann Strauss Jr. Fritz Kreisler

6. The pianist Jorge Bolet hails from what country? Argentina Bolivia Spain Cuba

7. What is the third movement of Maurice Ravel's insanely difficult 'Gaspard de la nuit' titled? Le Gibet La Valse Ondine Scarbo

8. Speaking of 'Gaspard de la nuit,' what pianist premiered the piece after working intensely with the composer? Claude Debussy Vlado Perlemuter Ricardo Vines Robert Casadesus

9. The legendary Arthur Rubinstein was most known for his interpretations of what composer? Heitor Villa-Lobos Franz Liszt Frederic Chopin Johannes Brahms

10. What French pianist collaborated with the puppet government of Vichy France, and was therefore banned from performing in France for a number of years? Alfred Cortot Jacques Ibert Walter Gieseking Victor Laszlo

11. The Lithuanian and French pianist Vlado Perlemuter recorded exclusively for what label in his later years? RCA Nimbus EMI Sony Classics

12. Sergei Rachmaninov recorded his 2nd Piano Concerto with the Philadelphia Orchestra led by what famously flamboyant conductor? Hint: Watch 'Fantasia' Lorin Maazel Eugene Ormandy Leopold Stokowski Adrian Boult

13. Vladimir Horowitz was close friends with what violinist, who was managed early on by Horowitz' manager, Alexander Merovitch? Jascha Heifetz Mischa Elman Yehudi Menuhin Nathan Milstein

14. What pianist died during a performance of the Grieg Piano Concerto at Carnegie Hall in 1951? Grigory Ginsburg Ignaz Friedman Lev Oborin Simon Barere

15. Finally, the toughest of them all. Ignaz Friedman was born in what Polish town in 1882, the same town as Josef Hofmann? Vilnius Warsaw Krakow Podgorze