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 1-25 of 136 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor C-25416 12-in. 5/27/1921 O vinu malkejnu Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with instrumental quartet vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor C-25417 12-in. 5/27/1921 Ahawas olom Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with instrumental quartet vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-40073 12-in. 11/8/1927 Moron di vishmoiu Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with pipe organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-40074 12-in. 11/8/1927 Hanshamo loch Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with pipe organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-40075 12-in. 11/8/1927 Ribono shel olom Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with pipe organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-40076 12-in. 11/8/1927 Ribono shel olom, part 2 Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with pipe organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-41456 12-in. 1/19/1928 Brach dodi Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with pipe organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-41457 12-in. 1/19/1928 Maarovis Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with pipe organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-45237 12-in. 6/5/1928 Kinos Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with pipe organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-45238 12-in. 6/5/1928 Leduvid mizmor Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with pipe organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-45239 12-in. 6/5/1928 Moron di vishmaiu Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with pipe organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-45240 12-in. 6/5/1928 Weal yedei Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with pipe organ vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor CVE-45245 12-in. 6/6/1928 Tiher Rabbi Ishmuel Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with pipe organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-45246 12-in. 6/6/1928 Halbein chatuenu Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with pipe organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-49301 12-in. 11/28/1928 Ribono shel olom, part 1 Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-49302 12-in. 11/28/1928 Ribono shel olom, part 2 Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-49303 12-in. 11/28/1928 Sim shulom Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-49510 12-in. 1/9/1929 Ribono shel olom Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with pipe organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-55070 12-in. 7/2/1929 T'ka b'shofar Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-55071 12-in. 7/2/1929 Jehi rozon Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-55072 12-in. 7/2/1929 Hallujo Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor CVE-62409 12-in. 5/21/1930 Uwinu malkeinu Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with pipe-organ vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor CVE-62410 12-in. 5/21/1930 Uwiom simchaschem Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with pipe-organ vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor CVE-Test-54 12-in. 11/28/1928 Sim shulom Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor [Trial 1920-12-29-03] 12-in. 12/29/1920 Owinu Malkenu Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal  
(Results 1-25 of 136 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kwartin, Zavel," accessed April 16, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106857.

Kwartin, Zavel. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106857.

"Kwartin, Zavel." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 16 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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