Blumental, Felicja (1908–1991)

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Blumental, Felicja (1908–1991)

Polish pianist. Born Dec 28, 1908, in Warsaw, Poland; died in Israel, 1991; studied composition at Warsaw Conservatory with Karol Szymanowski.

Made debut (1938); escaped Nazi-occupied Poland (1942), launching successful career in Brazil (1940s); gave world premiere of Heitor Villa-Lobos' Fifth Piano Concerto (1956), with London Philharmonic Orchestra; made well received recordings of a number of neglected concertos by Ries, Clementi and others, and championed the music of Polish composer Karol Szymanowski, recording his Symphonie concertante, Op. 60; also performed Partita for Harpsichord and Orchestra which was composed for her by Krysztof Penderecki.

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