Zavel Kwartin

Zevulun "Zavel" Kwartin (Hebrew: זבולון קוורטין; March 25, 1874, Novoarkhanhelsk, Yelisavetgradsky Uyezd, Kherson Governorate, Russian Empire - October 3, 1952, United States) was a Russian-born chazzan (cantor) and composer, a contemporary of Mordechai Hershman. Part of his family fled to Brazil during World War II. They have descendants in the northeastern region of Brazil, more precisely in the state of Ceará.

Kwartin gave his first concert in the synagogue of his home town in 1896. In 1897 he moved to Vienna for further studies. He was in contact with Joseph Sulzer, son of the former cantor of the biggest synagogue, Vienna's Stadttempel, Salomon Sulzer. In 1903 he was offered to be chazzan of the newly opened Neudeggergasse Synagogue in Vienna's district Josefstadt. In 1906 he signed hist first contracts with record labels like Deutsche Grammophon and soon sold more than half a million records. He gave concerts in the russian Rayon, Vilna and Białystok. In 1910 he moved to Budapest to become chazzan at the Dohány Street Synagogue. In 1914 he was offered a tournee through USA, but he was hindered by the outbreak of World War I.

Cantor Kwartin was endowed with a beautiful, rich expressive tenor voice with an astounding range and the agility to sing rapid coloratura. His superb voice and elaborate compositions garnered him international renown as both a chazzan and composer. A Musical Courier newspaper article dated May 6, 1920 lists a concert he gave with his daughter, Anna Kwartin, coloratura soprano, at the Metropolitan Opera House on April 27, 1920 before an audience of 4,000 people. The article states: "Sawil Kwartin, Cantor Tenor, who enjoys a big reputation throughout European countries, gave a debut recital in the Metropolitan Opera House on Tuesday Evening, April 27. He was given an ovation upon entering the stage, and it required considerable time before he was able to sing his opening number. Following this, the audience bestowed enthusiastic applause which did not subside until an encore was given." His grand daughter Evelyn Lear also became a successful soprano.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 25, 1874 (Novoarkhangelsk), Died October 3, 1952 (New York)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1907 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor vocal, composer, arranger

Notes: Victor ledgers, 5/27/1921: "List as ober-kantor."

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 136 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick X13074 12-in. 5/9/1924 Mélodie Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with cello and piano vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 13075 10-in. 5/9/1924 Tears Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with piano vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 13126 10-in. 5/9/1924 Dus wigele Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with piano and organ vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 13129 10-in. 5/9/1924 Die ehre Gottes aus der natur Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick X13130 12-in. 5/9/1924 Umipne chatuenu Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ composer, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick X13131 12-in. 5/9/1924 Umipne chatuenu Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ composer, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 13166 10-in. 5/23/1924 Dus wigele Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with piano vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 13167 10-in. 5/23/1924 Still wie die nacht Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with piano vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 13168 10-in. 5/23/1924 Die ehre Gottes aus der natur Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick X13169 12-in. 5/23/1924 Umipne chatuenu Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ composer, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick X13170 12-in. 5/23/1924 Umipne chatuenu Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ composer, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 6111-6112 10-in. approximately July 1921 Israel b'tach Sawel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick X6113-X6114 12-in. approximately July 1921 Odom yesodoi m'ofor Sawel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 6185-6186 10-in. approximately Aug. 1921 Ki hineh Kachomer Sawel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick 6775-6776 10-in. approximately Nov. 1921 Hashkivenu Savel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ composer, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 6777-6778 10-in. approximately Nov. 1921 Hashkivenu Savel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ composer, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 6913-6914 10-in. approximately Dec. 1921 Schekein chovas Savel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick 6915-6916 10-in. approximately Dec. 1921 N'kadesch Savel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ composer, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 6917-6918 10-in. approximately Dec. 1921 Wehu rachum Savel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick 8310-8311 10-in. approximately June 1922 Brochos Samuel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick 8312-8313 approximately June 1922 [Unknown title(s)] Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 9918-9919 10-in. 2/15/1923 Peer v’chovod Savel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick 9920-9921 10-in. 2/15/1923 Hagever Savel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick X9922-X9923 12-in. 2/15/1923 Ribono shel olom Samuel Kwartin Male vocal solo, with organ composer, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick X9924-X9925 12-in. 2/15/1923 Saroh chajo Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ composer, vocalist, tenor vocal  
(Results 51-75 of 136 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kwartin, Zavel," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106857.

Kwartin, Zavel. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106857.

"Kwartin, Zavel." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106857

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