Beveridge Webster

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Beveridge Webster (b. May 13, 1908, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - d. June 30, 1999, Hanover, New Hampshire) was an American pianist and educator.

Beveridge Webster studied with his father, initially, and in 1921, at age 14, he began five years of study in Europe, first at the American Academy at Fontainebleau,[1] then at the Paris Conservatory with Isidor Philipp and Nadia Boulanger. He also studied in Berlin with Artur Schnabel. He made his New York debut in November 1934 with the New York Philharmonic performing Edward MacDowell's Piano Concerto No. 2.[2]

Perhaps best known as an interpreter of French composers, especially Maurice Ravel, Webster gave premieres or made first recordings of many contemporary works, including pieces by Louise Talma, Roger Sessions, Roy Harris, Aaron Copland and Elliott Carter. Webster gave the first performance of Maurice Ravel's "Tzigane" in 1924. In 1968, over a three-concert series at Town Hall, Webster commemorated the 50th anniversary of Claude Debussy's death with the first complete survey of the composer's piano works in New York.[3]

A TIME Magazine article from 1937 said of Webster, "Dark, well-knit, young Beveridge Webster is a good swimmer, takes pride in his tennis, likes to play poker or bridge with his great good friend Igor Stravinsky. He boasts of the little slam he once made against Sidney Lenz."[4]

He taught at New England Conservatory from 1940 to 1946 and at the Juilliard School from 1946 to 1990.[5] He made a substantial series of recordings issued on LP by Dover Publications.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ TIME Magazine, "Maestro & Prodigy," January 25, 1937
  2. ^ "New York Times" obituary, "Beveridge Webster, a Pianist And a Longtime Teacher, 91," by Allan Kozinn, July 7, 1999
  3. ^ "New York Times" obituary, "Beveridge Webster, a Pianist And a Longtime Teacher, 91," by Allan Kozinn, July 7, 1999
  4. ^ TIME Magazine, "Maestro & Prodigy," January 25, 1937
  5. ^ "New York Times" obituary, "Beveridge Webster, a Pianist And a Longtime Teacher, 91," by Allan Kozinn, July 7, 1999
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