Photos

Borovsky in uniform jacket with gold buttons which his mother gave him, c. 1912. Believe newspaper is the RETCH daily newspaper of the Constitutional Democratic Party (1906-1917)

Borovsky's student ID photo being admitted to the St. Petersburg Conservatory, 1907 from Central State Historical Archive. 

Annette Essipoff (1851-1914), Borovsky's piano teacher at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, 1907-1912

This photo was taken at the Fifth International Competition for the Anton Rubinstein prize which commenced on August 22, 1910. It was the last year the Competition was held. Two prizes were offered, for composition and for piano playing. The two successful competitors were both German musicians: Emil Frey (1889-1946) - as composer, he was actually Swiss - and Alfred Hoehn, professor at the Hoschsche Konservatorium in Frankfurt (as pianist; he was actually Austrian). Diplomas for excellence in piano playing were awarded to Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982), Emil Frey, and Alexander Borovsky (1889-1968). Frank Merrick (1886-1981) was awarded the Diploma of Honor for piano and composition. The Board of Examiners consisted of only Russian musicians. Alexander Glazunov (1865-1936), Chairman of the Jury, presented the awards.Pictured from left to right are A. Borovsky, E. Frey, A. Glazunov, F. Merrick and A. Rubinstein. 

The panel of judges for the 1910 Anton Rubinstein Competition in St. Petersburg. There are numbers across bottom of black cloth and I will identify name of judges: 1) A.K. Glazunov, Dir. of St. Petersburg Conservatory, 1905 2) A. N. Essipova (1851-1914) professor at St. Petersburg Conservatory, 1893-1914) (several of her students were in Competition and she reclused herself from voting during this time) 3) S.K. Exner, Dir. Saratov Imperial School of Music 4) Hummert (Gummert), Director Kazan Imperial School of Music 5) I. Mestetschnin (Gitomir) 6) K. N. Igumnov (1873-1948), Professor Moscow Conservatory 1899- 7) V.P. Kalafatti (1869-1942) St. Petersburg, composer 8) M. Pressmann (1870-1937), pupil of Zverev, Director Rostov Imperial School of Music 9) Villoing, Director Nizhnyi Novgorod Oblast Imperial School of Music 10) K.A. Beloruchev-Miniar, Director Voronezh Imperial School of Music Other judges not in photo: S.I. Gabel, temporary Director, St Petersburg Conservatory; Leonid D. Kreutzer (1884-1953), pupil of Glazounov and Essipova; N. Lavrov (1853-1927) Inspector, St. Petersburg Conservatory, 1913-1924.

 Another photo of 1910 contestants of Competition with Glazunov

 Borovsky's student ID photo at University of St. Petersburg. Borovsky received his law degree on May 28, 1914. He received his Diploma as a "Free Artist" from the St. Petersburg Conservatory in the piano class of Essipova in 1912.

Commemorative plaque at the Conservatory of St. Petersburg: "The winners and deserving teachers at Conservatory-Borovsky's year of graduation-1912"

Photo of actual plaque. First name listed is Tchaikovsky (1865). Borovsky's name is first under 1912.

Closeup of Borovsky's name on plaque.

Photo of Borovsky, August 22, 1913, a year after his graduation from St. Petersburg Conservatory. Inscribed to "Ola Mikhailovna Anatova, from your devoted A. Borovsky."

Borovsky as soloist with Persimfans Orchestra (first conductorless orchestra) c. 192?

Borovsky and Ferenc Fricsay (1914-1963)

Bruno Walter and Borovsky at Concertegouw Concert, February 17, 1935 - Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto
(notice in second column, middle)

Borovsky appears as soloist in Argentina with Radio Orchestra, October 13, 1935 with Juan Jose Castro, conductor

 Borovsky at Bechstein piano c. 1940

Oil painting by Charles E. Chambers (1883-1941) from the Steinway Collection "Twelve Foremost Steinway Pianists." The painting was presented on February 24, 1967 to the Chicago Musical College in honor of the 90th birthday of Dr. Rudolph Ganz (1877-1972), President Emeritus of the College and one of the twelve. The 12 Steinway pianists depicted are Mischa Levitski (1898-1941); Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943); Ignace Paderewski (1860-1941); Alexander Borovsky (1889-1968); Ignaz Friedman (1882-1948); Alfred Cortot (1877-1957); Josef Hofmann (1876-1957); Rudolph Ganz (1877-1972); John Powell (1882-1963); Percy Grainger (1882-1961); Ernest Hutcheson (1871-1951); and Ernest Schelling (1876-1939).  Borovsky is sitting behind Paderewski (leaning on his right arm).

Borovsky piano class in Brazil

In November 1957, Borovsky performed on live Paris television J.S. Bach's complete Well-Tempered Clavier. I believe this was the first time in the history of television that this was done.

Borovsky on sight seeing cruise with Tatiana Nikolayeva. Borovsky gave a lecture recital at the Ecole Vincent d'Indy on June 12, 1965 performing as one of the judges of the Montreal Concours. The lecture consisted of an extended analysis of the use of the middle pedal in the music of Debussy; the recital was devoted to a performance of Book 1 of Debussy's Preludes.

Titiana Nikolayeva (1924-1993), Russian pianist, also professed at Moscow Conservatory. Titiana was a judge at the International Concours, Montreal 1965.

Borovsky is the second man behind Igor Stravinsky (sitting in first row). I have marked an "x" underneath Borovsky's bow tie. 

 

Borovsky playing on board a ship traveling across the Equator.

Signatures of Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924), Italian composer, conductor, pianist, editor, writer, piano teacher, dated 1912, and below Busoni's signature, Alexander Borovsky 1934

A young girl, perhaps age 7, greets Borovsky after a performance in Madrid, Spain

Claudio Arrau (1903-1991) and Borovsky

Borovsky with Yehudi Menuhin

Borovsky on tour, c. 1931-1946

From left to right in photo: WIlliam Edward Clode, Alexander Borovsky, Coronel Eduardo Antonio Santos Pereira and Luiz Peter Clode. They were Commission's members of Academia de Musica da Madeira (Musical Academy of Madeira). This institution was connected to Circulo de Cultura Musical from Lisbon, which invited Borovsky to come to Madeira. Photo taken February 14, 1954. Borovsky performed twice, February 12 and 13th (Quinta Vigil and Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias). 

The silent keyboard, "Mutano", produced by George Woodhouse in London, UK which Borovsky traveled with throughout his tours. Borovsky met and had conversations with Woodhouse.

Borovsky's leather briefcase which was made in Mexico. Borovsky had a photographic memory and did not need to travel with the printed scores.

Quatre Episodes Sur Un Theme for solo piano, dedicated to Madame et Monsieur A. Borovsky by Russian composer-pianist, Vera Vinogradowa (1895-1982). Vera married composer pianist, Herman B. Biek. 

Marcello Boasso (1902-1960), South American composer, pianist, known in S.A. as Prince Kalender.

Two piano works dedicated to Borovsky by Kalender

1) Nocturne Impromptu, Op 16 No 4
2) El Corcel de Extremadura (The Steed of Extremadura): Leyenda, Op 10 No 3

 

Advertisement for Borovsky's piano rolls produced by Duo-Art, c.1923-25

Invitation to play for US & British forces in Trinidad & Tobago, 1941

Trinidad Guardian, September 17, 1941: Scenes in a Day in the Life of an Artist. "Musical Treat for Dockside Troops," Borovsky performs for American troops:

One explanation for the sincere, self-effacing kind of artistry Alexander Borovsky posses at the piano is the sincere, self-effacing kind of personality behind the artist. One day last week, the "Trinidad Guardian" cameraman took a few hours from his regular chores to follow Mr. Borovsky about and catch him in attitudes more or less typical of his unassuming manner of doing things. Upper left: Working away at the piano at Government House. Mr. Borovsky runs over compositions for tonight's programme in the Globe Theatre. Lower left: Mr. Borovsky generally practices during the early hours of the morning, arriving at Government House before the official family has awakened. As he approaches Bach, always saved for the last, ladies of the Red Cross begin to prepare for their morning's work.  After practicing Mr. Borovsky stops to chat with them. Upper right: Greatest joy for the artist away from the piano is nature. Walks through the Savannah and the Botanical Gardens are priceless pleasures and supply appropriate backgrounds for contemplation. Lower right: Noonday meals are usually taken alone because of the opportunity they afford to browse the headlines and the news as reported in the "Guardian."

Borovsky, c. 1943

Inscribed photo of Jose Iturbi (1895-1980) "for Alejandro Borowsky with admiration and affection (signed) Jose Iturbi 1935"

American Composers' Testimonial Dinner in honor of Serge Koussevitzky, celebrating his 20th year as conductor of Boston Symphony Orchestra and his distinguished service to music in America-Plaza Hotel, May 16, 1944 (difficult to find Borovsky in photo). At head table with Koussevitzky is his niece, Leonard Bernstein, Helen Coates (his secretary), Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, Alexander Siloti and others.

Borovsky in Green Room at Symphony Hall, Boston

Alexander Borovsky photo by Eliascheff

Autographed portrait of Baron Harold de Bildt (served as King Gustav V of Sweden's Minister to Cairo, Egypt). Inscribed, "To Alexander Borovsky, a wonderful pianist, a noble interpreter of great music, and a good friend, from (signed) Harold de Bildt, Cairo, Dec. 21st 1933

Borovsky with Maestro Guillermo Espinosa (1905-1990), conductor of National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, S.A.Borovsky is to appear as soloist with Orchestra, September 1941

a letter dated July 14, 1946 from conductor Guillermo Espinosa to his friend, Borovsky,

From Borovsky's Archives, an inscribed photograph from pianist, Marisa Regules (1920-1973) (signed) Marisa Regules, Buenos Aires, December 1935

From Borovsky's Archives, an inscribed signed photograph from pianist, composer, pedagogue, Lia Cimaglia Espinosa (1906-1998), dated 1935

Ella Goldstein (Palestinian pianist, born in China in 1927) studied with Borovsky at Muzieklyceum in Amsterdam, 1938-1939; "To my adoring teacher Alexander Kirilovich from his forever devoted" (signed) Eli Goldstein 5-12-1939

 "To great artist-my beloved, adoring Alexander Kirilovich Borovsky from infinitely grateful loving and devoted, (signed) Eli Goldstein, 27-3-1939

Photo taken in Buenos Aires. From left to right, Mieczyslaw Munz (1900-1976), Borovsky, Claudio Arrau (1903-1991), Gregorio Fitelberg (1879-1953), Alberto Wolff (1884-1970)

From Borovsky's Archive, a photograph of the Hall of Columns Concert Hall, Moscow with Borovsky's words on back. Unfortunately his person at piano is blurred from camera flash.

Inscribed photo from Margaret Heifetz (1925-?) to Borovsky; January 4, 1935. Margaret made her debut at age 9 conducting the the Moscow Philharmonic and also performing piano works of Chopin and compositions of her own.

Inscribed photo to Borovsky: October 19, 1935 from ALMAH MELGAR (b. ????-1986) Argentina pianist, wife of Carlos Larribe, conductor. Borovsky stayed with the Melgars when he toured; Borovsky coached Almah for long periods of time. Borovsky expected Almah to learn all of Liszt's Transcendental Etudes in one week and she did.

November  1955 Aarhus Theatre, Aarhus-DENMARK
(newspaper photo of concert grand piano being hoisted up by crane via backdoor of the theatre for Borovsky's performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 4 in G major that evening at Philharmonic Society's concert

Portrait photograph of Borovsky by Harcourt

Concert photo in Cartagena, Colombia

Borovsky in Stockholm, Sweden

Borovsky on tour

An early portrait of Borovsky

Inscribed photo to Otto de Grieff (1903-1995) Colombian musicologist, poet, translator, teacher, engineer, journalist
(signed) dated 1941

Two scanned portraits of Borovsky from 1920's by Russian portrait artist, Vladimir Krivoutz (1904-1972) in the possession of Alexander Tcherepnin (1899-1977)

Portrait of Borovsky by Sonia Vargas, dated 1946

Two early photographs of Borovsky

Signed, inscribed and dated photo to "Olga Mikhailovna Anatova for memory from devoted (yours faithfully) (signed) A. Borovsky, February 22, 1913
(a year after Borovsky's graduation from Conservatory)

An early photo, perhaps in Paris. Borovsky's mother is seated in front seat, Borovsky's first wife, Maria in back seat, their daughter, Natasha, seated on runner. Borovsky is standing next to woman with white neck collar; gentleman on end unidentified; the Ballot car may be Prokofiev's

Borovsky, c. 1930's

Borovsky (seated, left side) on board ship, c. 1930's

Borovsky standing behind his daughter, Natasha, December 1933

Borovsky, c. 1930's

Borovsky with friend

Borovsky on board ship at head table

Borovsky with Harry Ellis Dickson (1909-2003), first violinist of Boston Symphony and conductor of Boston Pops in Borovsky's home in Waban, MA

Violinist