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 126-136 of 136 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Gramophone 11820u 10-in. 1907 Waani syfiloss Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with chorus and organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Gramophone 11822u 10-in. 1907 Mw'chen ten pachdecho! Chor Kaiserin Elisabeth Tempel ; Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with chorus vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 14639u 10-in. May 1909 Kol adonoj Chor Kaiserin Elisabeth Tempel ; Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 14640u 10-in. May 1909 Rehenu beonjenu Chor Kaiserin Elisabeth Tempel ; Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with chorus vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 14909u 10-in. May 1909 Hazir tumim um poolo Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 14910u 10-in. May 1909 W'chol maamimim schehu Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 14911u 10-in. May 1909 Ufros sukas Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 14912u 10-in. 1907 K'duscho Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 15331u 10-in. 10/15/1909 Aschrei jodé sruo Chor Kaiserin Elisabeth Tempel ; Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with chorus vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 15343u 10-in. 10/18/1909 W'hakohanim Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Gramophone 15344u 10-in. 10/18/1909 Jaale tachnuneinu Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
(Results 126-136 of 136 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kwartin, Zavel," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106857.

Kwartin, Zavel. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106857.

"Kwartin, Zavel." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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