Irene Scharrer Explained

Irene Scharrer
Birth Date:2 February 1888
Birth Place:London, UK
Death Date:11 January 1971
Occupation:Pianist

Irene Scharrer (2 February 188811 January 1971) was an English classical pianist.

Early life and education

Irene Scharrer was born in London, the daughter of Herbert Tobias Scharrer and Ida Henrietta Samuel Scharrer. She studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Tobias Matthay.[1] Scharrer was a descendant of Moses Samuel, she being his great-granddaughter. The pianist Harriet Cohen was the great-great-granddaughter of Samuel, thus making the two pianists related.[2] Irene’s mother, Ida, was a friend of Lizzie Hess, the mother of Myra Hess, and both daughters attended St Leonard’s School for Girls. The Scharrers and Hesses were not related and Irene and Myra were not cousins, as many people believed. They both studied at the Royal Academy of Music where they were quite inseparable. The composer Bax describing them as, ‘two very small and eternally giggling girls’.[3]

Career

Scharrer made her London début at the age of 16, and gave concerts regularly[4] [5] until June 1958, where she appeared for the last time, playing Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos with Myra Hess. They often performed four-handed compositions together.[6] [7] "Her playing is virile, yet withal delicate and poetic," explained a 1912 reviewer, "a lovely touch and poetic style combined with warmth of tone, but pervading all delicacy and refinement."[8] She was especially known for playing the works of Chopin.[9] [10] [11]

Other collaborators included Arthur Nikisch in Berlin,[12] Hungarian violinist Louis Pecskai, and Landon Ronald in London. She visited Sir Edward Elgar in 1918 and was promised the first performance of his piano concerto, then being sketched.[13] [14] Scharrer gave her first American concerts in 1926, in Boston and New York.[15] She gave a radio concert in 1929.[16]

Recordings

A selection of reissues is commercially available.

From as early as 1909 she recorded for HMV, then between 1929 and the mid-1930s for Columbia. Recorded repertoire included:

Personal life

Scharrer married Samuel Gurney Lubbock, who was a housemaster at Eton College. They had two children, both actors, Ian Lubbock and Rachel Gurney. She died January 11, 1971, at the age of 82.[19]

Notes and References

  1. Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Seventh Edition, Revised by Nicolas Slonimsky, Schirmer Books, New York, 1984.
  2. Book: D'Arcy Hart . Ronald J. . The Samuel Family of Liverpool and London . 1958 . Routledge . London . 10,53.
  3. Book: McKenna . Marian C . Myra Hess : a portrait . 1976 . Hamilton . London . 12,17.
  4. News: 1937-01-22 . Famous Artists; Kipnis and Irene Scharrer in Cheltenham . 6 . The Gloucestershire Echo . 2022-12-19 . Newspapers.com.
  5. News: MHH . 1944-08-21 . Art of Irene Scharrer; Torquay Audience Thrilled . 4 . Herald Express . 2022-12-19 . Newspapers.com.
  6. Web site: Irene Scharrer- Bio, Albums, Pictures – Naxos Classical Music.. Naxos.com. 6 August 2020.
  7. News: 1941-11-14 . Popular Artists . 4 . The Gloucestershire Echo . 2022-12-19 . Newspapers.com.
  8. News: 1912-05-07 . Piano & Violin Recital; Irene Scharrer and Louis Pecskai; A Brilliant Combination . 3 . Cambridge Daily News . 2022-12-19 . Newspapers.com.
  9. News: 1923-10-09 . Chopin Recital; Miss Irene Scharrer at the Town Hall . 4 . Birmingham Gazette . 2022-12-19 . Newspapers.com.
  10. News: 1948-10-06 . Irene Scharrer at Central Hall . 4 . Coventry Evening Telegraph . 2022-12-19 . Newspapers.com.
  11. News: 1956-09-06 . Famous Woman Pianist's Chopin Recital . 5 . Cornish Guardian . 2022-12-19 . Newspapers.com.
  12. Web site: Elgar - His Music : Piano Concerto. Elgar.org. 6 August 2020.
  13. Alice Elgar diary, 27 October 1918
  14. Web site: Elgar - His Music : Piano Concerto. Elgar.org.
  15. G.C. . January 7, 1926 . Irene Scharrer a Favorite of the British Public . Musical Courier . 92 . 1 . 6 . Internet Archive.
  16. News: 1929-03-11 . A Brilliant Pianist; Chance to Hear Miss Irene Scharrer . 8 . Evening Chronicle . 2022-12-19 . Newspapers.com.
  17. His Master's Voice Catalogue, 1927
  18. His Master's Voice Catalogue, 1930
  19. News: 1972-10-27 . Irene Scharrer Lubbock . 16 . Kensington News and Post . 2022-12-19 . Newspapers.com.

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