Schumann Kreisleriana Pt 1 and 2 Foster Rec 1959

Sidney Foster (1917- 1977). Born in South Carolina, he played to Josef Hofmann and therefore was admitted to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. There, Foster first studied with the legendary Isabelle Vengerova and later with David Saperton. Because of his talent, he developed a special relationship with Saperton. It was Foster, along with others, who sat with Saperton, day after day for many hours while he agonized over the different test pressings of 10 Chopin- Godowsky Etudes recorded for RCA Victor in 1940. They were never released because of the outbreak of WW 2. The metal masters were melted down for the war effort. When David Sapertons 1950s recordings were once again made available on the I.P.A. label in 1977, it was Sidney Foster who wrote the liner notes. He had just finished writing the notes when he died on February 7, 1977. Foster was not only Sapertons greatest disciple, but he was also a significant pianist whose importance has been lost in time. (Among many others).
Here Foster plays the "Aussert bewegt" and "Sehr innig und nicht zu rash" from Schumann's Kreisleriana Op. 16

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Schumann
• Kreisleriana
• Foster

[LoverOfDebussy]

As a student at Indiana in the late 1950's and 60's I vividly recall some of Sidney Foster's recitals. He was a marvel, easily among the greatest pianists of that time, as this recording shows. Thanks so much for bringing his music back to life.

[Beckmesser2]

@LoverOfDebussy Thank you for sharing your memories about this extraordinary pianist.

[snaaptaker]

Very lovely. I used to be quite fond of Foster's playing, but I've not heard him in several decades.

Back in the 70s, when I lived in and around San Diego, his son, Lincoln, owned a Jewish-Deli-Italian Restaurant(?!) in Del Mar (IIRC, or maybe it was Cardiff) which I used to frequent. The food was great, old instruments (violins, French horns, etc.) adorned the walls, and classical music was piped in from the local NPR station.

Thanks for the wonderful memories of both Sidney and Lincoln.

[Beckmesser2]

@snaaptaker Thank you for sharing your memories.

[BachScholar]

It's nice to finally hear Foster, who I have never heard. He is the teacher of my most important teacher, so I feel a sense of lineage to him. I like his playing very much.

[Beckmesser2]

I'm glad that you enjoyed these examples of Foster's playing

[MaryEpstein]

Like BachScholar it is nice to finally hear Foster, since he was the teacher of my most important teacher as well. My teacher spent endless hours on relaxation particularly letting the arm drop with complete freedom - an especially important technique for playing the first two measures of Beethoven Op. 2 No. 3 Sonata. My teacher Lois Lantz is now about 80 years old and was a brilliant pianist and teacher. Thank you

[troppofiato]

Wonderful pianist - very beautiful sound, powerful when needed yet never harsh. Rock solid technique.