Irene Scharrer

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Irene Scharrer
A young white woman with dark hair in a bouffant updo, seated with one hand on chin
Born2 February 1888
London, UK
Died11 January 1971
OccupationPianist

Irene Scharrer (2 February 1888 – 11 January 1971) was an English classical pianist.

Early life and education[edit]

Irene Scharrer was born in London, the daughter of Herbert Tobias Scharrer and Ida Henrietta Samuel Scharrer. She studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Tobias Matthay.[1] Scharrer is sometimes erroneously described as pianist Myra Hess's cousin. She was distantly related to another woman pianist, Harriet Cohen, the two sharing a great-great-grandfather.[citation needed]

Career[edit]

Scharrer made her London début at the age of 16, and gave concerts regularly[2][3] until June 1958, where she appeared for the last time, playing Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos with Myra Hess. They often performed four-handed compositions together.[4][5] "Her playing is virile, yet withal delicate and poetic," explained a 1912 reviewer, "a lovely touch and poetic style combined with warmth of tone, but pervading all delicacy and refinement."[6] She was especially known for playing the works of Chopin.[7][8][9]

Other collaborators included Arthur Nikisch in Berlin,[10] Hungarian violinist Louis Pecskai,[6] and Landon Ronald in London. She visited Sir Edward Elgar in 1918 and was promised the first performance of his piano concerto, then being sketched.[citation needed] Scharrer gave her first American concerts in 1926, in Boston and New York.[11] She gave a radio concert in 1929.[12]

Recordings[edit]

A selection of reissues is commercially available.

From as early as 1909 she recorded for HMV, then between 1929 and the mid-1930s for Columbia. Recorded repertoire included:

  • Bach Prelude and Fugue (HMVD576)
  • Chopin Prelude in F-sharp minor; Waltz in E minor (HMV E255); Fantaisie-Impromptu; Impromptu in A-flat (HMV D1087); Study in G-flat (HMV D1303); Study in F minor Op. 25 No. 2
  • Saint-Saëns Allegro Scherzando from Piano Concerto in G (HMV D81)
  • Schumann Intermezzo in E-flat (HMV D87)
  • Mendelssohn Rondo Capricioso (HMV D87); The Bees' Wedding (HMV D1303)
  • Sinding Rustle of Spring (HMV D1303)
  • Debussy Poissons d'or; Reflets dans l'eau (HMV D914); Arabesque No. 2 (HMV D576)[13][14][4]
  • Chopin Scherz No.2 in B Flat Minor, Op. 31 (Columbia D.X. 433)
  • Chopin Fantaisie Impromptu / Impromptu in A Flat (HMV D1087)
  • Liszt Rhapsody (HMV 05526)

Personal life[edit]

Scharrer married Samuel Gurney Lubbock, who was a housemaster at Eton College.[11] They had two children, Ian and Rachel. She died January 11, 1971, at the age of 82.[15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Seventh Edition, Revised by Nicolas Slonimsky, Schirmer Books, New York, 1984.
  2. ^ "Famous Artists; Kipnis and Irene Scharrer in Cheltenham". The Gloucestershire Echo. 22 January 1937. p. 6. Retrieved 19 December 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ MHH (21 August 1944). "Art of Irene Scharrer; Torquay Audience Thrilled". Herald Express. p. 4. Retrieved 19 December 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "Irene Scharrer- Bio, Albums, Pictures – Naxos Classical Music". Naxos.com. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Popular Artists". The Gloucestershire Echo. 14 November 1941. p. 4. Retrieved 19 December 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b "Piano & Violin Recital; Irene Scharrer and Louis Pecskai; A Brilliant Combination". Cambridge Daily News. 7 May 1912. p. 3. Retrieved 19 December 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Chopin Recital; Miss Irene Scharrer at the Town Hall". Birmingham Gazette. 9 October 1923. p. 4. Retrieved 19 December 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Irene Scharrer at Central Hall". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 6 October 1948. p. 4. Retrieved 19 December 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Famous Woman Pianist's Chopin Recital". Cornish Guardian. 6 September 1956. p. 5. Retrieved 19 December 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Elgar - His Music : Piano Concerto". Elgar.org. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  11. ^ a b G.C. (7 January 1926). "Irene Scharrer a Favorite of the British Public". Musical Courier. 92 (1): 6 – via Internet Archive.
  12. ^ "A Brilliant Pianist; Chance to Hear Miss Irene Scharrer". Evening Chronicle. 11 March 1929. p. 8. Retrieved 19 December 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ His Master's Voice Catalogue, 1927
  14. ^ His Master's Voice Catalogue, 1930
  15. ^ "Irene Scharrer Lubbock". Kensington News and Post. 27 October 1972. p. 16. Retrieved 19 December 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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