Title: A Handsome Black & White Portrait of the Great Romanian Composer & Conductor George Enescu, Baton in Hand, Intensely Looking Up from a Score.
Description: (New York, February), (1947). (1947). - sc - A powerful 14 inch high by 11 inch wide photograph by Emmerich Gara depicting the great Romanian composer and conductor from the chest up standing at the podium in three-quarter profile. Attired in a dark suit and tie over a striped shirt, the disheveled conductor looks up from a score into the dark distance. His furrowed brow belies the softer look of his features as he gently holds a baton between his two hands. Photographed by Cellist Emmerich Gara, with his name & address stamped on the verso of the photograph. Signed by Gara in pencil on the verso. Fine.
The Romanian composer, violinist, and conductor and teacher George Enescu (1881-1955) was born in the village of Liveni. Known as Georges Enesco in France, Enescu was a child prodigy who created his first composition at the age of five. His works, influenced by Romanian folk music, include the two Romanian Rhapsodies, his opera "Oedipe", five symphonies, a symphonic poem "Vox Maris", and much more including chamber music. He made his American debut as a conductor at Carnegie Hall in 1923 and made several recordings as a violinist. He was considered as a possible successor to Toscanini. The town of Liveni, where he was born, was later renamed "George Enescu" in his honor.
Emmerich Gara (b.1901, d.1963). Born in Vienna, Austria in 1901, Gara established lifelong careers as a portrait photographer and professional cellist. Before the outbreak of the Second World War he and his wife emigrated to the United States, where he was hired as cellist for the NBC Orchestra led by Arturo Toscanini. He performed with the orchestra (later called The Symphony of the Air) until his death.
From his seat in the front row of the orchestra Gara was in the unique position to photograph all the great conductors and soloists who appeared with the orchestra during this extraordinary period of musical activity. His subjects were captured in performance, rehearsal, and in candid moments during recordings and while socializing.
Gara's action portraits were used for record covers, for the Book of the Month Club and in articles in Time, Life and other major magazines around the world. Fine .
Keywords: MUSIC; ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH; SIGNED BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER; AUTOGRAPH; EMMERICH GARA; GEORGE ENESCU; GEORGES ENESCO; ROMANIAN; COMPOSER; CONDUCTOR; VIOLINIST; VIOLIN; TEACHER; CLASSICAL MUSICIAN; PORTRAIT; PHOTOGRAPHY; SOULFUL; GELATIN SILVER PRINT; PHOTO; BA
- Book number: 32994
See more books from our catalog: Music