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 101-125 of 136 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick 13791-13792 10-in. 9/15/1924 T’ka b’schofor Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with piano arranger, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick X13808-X13810 12-in. 9/18/1924 Hineni hehoni Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with piano arranger, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick X13811-X13812 12-in. 9/18/1924 Hineni hehoni Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with piano arranger, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 13813-13814 10-in. 9/18/1924 Wcholom m’kablim Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with piano arranger, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 13815-13816 10-in. 9/18/1924 Hajom tamzenu Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with piano arranger, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 13817-13818 10-in. 9/18/1924 Schuwo nafshi Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with piano arranger, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 14236-14237 10-in. 11/18/1924 L’el orech din Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ composer, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick X14238-X14239 12-in. 11/18/1924 A ’havas olom Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ composer, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 14260-14261 10-in. 11/19/1924 Jehi Rozon Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ composer, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 14262-14263 10-in. 11/19/1924 Midas horachamini Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ arranger, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 14280-14281 10-in. 11/20/1924 Hoir hakoidesh Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ arranger, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick X14282-X14283 12-in. 11/20/1924 Hoschano Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ arranger, vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 5264L 10-in. 5/29/1907 Ma towu Chor Kaiserin Elisabeth Tempel ; Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with vocal chorus vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 5265L 10-in. 1907 Ufros Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with chorus vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 5266L 10-in. 1907 Mehero Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with vocal chorus and organ vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 5269L 10-in. 1907 W'schomru Chor Kaiserin Elisabeth Tempel ; Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with chorus vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 5270½L 10-in. 1907 Jehi ruzon Chor Kaiserin Elisabeth Tempel ; Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with vocal chorus vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 5272L 10-in. 1907 Mogen owos Chor Kaiserin Elisabeth Tempel ; Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with chorus vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 5273L 10-in. 1907 Kidush Chor Kaiserin Elisabeth Tempel ; Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with chorus vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 10847u 10-in. June 1907 Haschiwenu Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 11225u 10-in. June 1907 J'chadschehu Sawel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 11694u 10-in. 1907 W'sseorew Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with chorus and organ vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 11772u 10-in. 1907 Ah — wass olom Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Gramophone 11778u 10-in. 1907 Kaperchatuenu Chor Kaiserin Elisabeth Tempel ; Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with chorus and organ vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 11817u 10-in. 1907 Kidush I'scholosch r'golim Chor Kaiserin Elisabeth Tempel ; Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with chorus and organ vocalist, tenor vocal  
(Results 101-125 of 136 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kwartin, Zavel," accessed April 23, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106857.

Kwartin, Zavel. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106857.

"Kwartin, Zavel." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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