Jan Smeterlin

Jan Smeterlin (7 February 1892 in Bielsko, Austro-Hungarian Empire – 18 January 1967 in London[1]) was a Polish concert pianist. He is especially known as an interpreter of Frédéric Chopin and Karol Szymanowski.[2][3]

Jan Smeterlin in 1936

Life

Jan Smeterlin was born as Hans Schmetterling. His father was Dr. Julius Schmetterling, a lawyer and board member of the Jewish Religious Community in Bielsko on behalf of the German assimilation party; his mother Amalia was also from the house also Schmetterling (they were first cousins). The Schmetterlings came to Bielsko from Grzymałów in Galicia. Under the name of Hans Schmetterling he gave concerts until 1923, when he appeared in the press as Jan Smeterling. From 1924, he used the name Jan Smeterlin.[4]

Smeterlin performed his first concert at age seven, but despite exhibiting talent in his youth, he was forced to study law. He won a scholarship to study with pianist Leopold Godowsky while studying in Vienna. Godowsky was to be one of Smeterlin's most important teachers. Smeterlin made his professional debut in 1920.[5]

Smeterlin was a cooking enthusiast and authored a posthumously published book of recipes. In his later years, Smeterlin and Didi, his wife, lived in New York City. Shortly after the couple returned to London in 1967, Smeterlin died.[6]

Szymanowski

Over the course of his career, Smeterlin maintained a close relationship with Polish composer Karol Szymanowski, whose works he frequently performed. The two were both colleagues and friends, and Szymanowski dedicated of a volume of mazurkas to Smeterlin and later published the pair's letters to each other.[7]

Recordings

Smeterlin recorded more music of Chopin than of any other composer. Over his career, Smeterlin recorded for the Philips, Mace, Allegro, Polydor, and RCA Victor recording labels.[8]

Notes
  1. Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Seventh Edition, Revised by Nicolas Slonimsky, Schirmer Books, New York, 1984, page 2151.
  2. The International Piano Archives at The University of Maryland - Smeterlin collection, biographical description with collection, accessed 6 January 2015
  3. The New York Times, obituary, "Jan Smeterlin, Pianist, 74, Dead," January 20, 1967, page 37
  4. Proszyk, Jacek. "Hans Schmetterling vel Jan Smeterlin - pianista". proszyk.blogspot.com. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  5. The International Piano Archives at The University of Maryland, biographical description with collection
  6. The International Piano Archives at the University of Maryland, biographical description with collection.
  7. "Correspondence and Essays," by Karol Szymanowski, Jan Smeterlin, B. M. Maciejewski, Felix Aprahamian, Allegro Press, 1969
  8. The International Piano Archives at The University of Maryland, biographical description with collection
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