Anatole Kitain

Anatole Kitain (Russian Анатоль Китайн; born September 17, 1903 in Saint Petersburg, † 30 July 1980 in Orange, New Jersey ) was a Russian- American concert pianist.

The Early Years

Anatole Kitain was born in St. Petersburg into a family of professional musicians. His brothers Robert and Boris were a violinist and his brother Alexander was also a pianist. He showed early talent as he played his own Nocturne the astonished Alexander Glazunov in the age of six. He began his studies at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, but the political instability of the time caused his family to move to Kiev, where he studied under Sergei Tarnowski at the conservatory. More pianist who studied at the Conservatory of Kiev during this time were Vladimir Horowitz, Alexander and Alexander Uninsky Brailowsky. Finally Kitain private pupil of Felix Blumenfeld, meanwhile, a few private students also Simon Barere and Horowitz were.

Escape

After he had left me his family in 1923 Russia, won a prize in the first Kitain Franz Liszt Competition in Budapest ( the first prize was awarded to Annie Fischer). Kitain settled down in France, but the outbreak of the Second World War led him to immigrate to the United States. However, the expected success failed to materialize. As a test of a new beginning, he changed his name in 1944 in Alexander Karinoff, used but two years later his original name. Despite a certain success among critics, he remained all his life overshadowed by the omnipresent figure of his former classmates Horowitz.

Recordings

He made several recordings in the U.S., including one with his brother Robert. He gave his last concert on 22 October 1963. He died in 1980 in Orange, New Jersey.

From his European recordings exist only for Columbia. They show a pianist of consummate technique and musicality, with many similarities of his contemporaries Horowitz and Barere. While the latter two were well known Kitain died in obscurity.

Swell

Biographical details about Kitain are rare, and this entry is based on Bryan crimps biographical essay in the APR, Complete Columbia Recordings APR 7029, and on a short autobiography from 1940

  • Classic pianist
  • Americans
  • Russian emigrant
  • Born in 1903
  • Died in 1980
  • Man
July 30 Orange (New Jersey) Alexander Brailowsky Columbia Records Integrated Authority File
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