Alexandre Tansman
Polish composer, conductor and pianist Alexandre Tansman was born in Łódź on 12 June 1897 into a Lithuanian Jewish family, and grew up attracted to French culture. He studied music at the Łódź Conservatory and law at the University of Warsaw.
After early successes with a series of concerts in Warsaw and winning the first competition for composers in independent Poland in 1919, he moved to Paris and continued his musical career there, where his presence was appreciated by, amongst others, André Caplet, Milhaud, Moszkowski, Ravel, Roussel, Ibert and Stravinsky. From the mid-1920s onwards his music became very well known internationally, and he toured much of the world in 1932 and 1933. He was granted French citizenship in 1938.
With Hitler's rise to power, Tansman moved to Los Angeles, joining the circle of composers and artists there.
In 1946 he returned to Paris and continued his career there.
Towards the end of his life he started to re-establish connections with Poland.
Alexandre Tansman died in Paris on 15 November 1986.
A selection of articles about Alexandre Tansman
Echoes of Oblivion by Robert McCarney - Wanted: Digital or Analogue
CD Spotlight. Consummate Skill - Piano music by Alexandre Tansman, recommended by Geoff Pearce. '... excellent performances ...'
CD Spotlight. Appealing Performances - Guitar music by Ponce and Tansman, heard by Patric Standford. '... a real pleasure ...'