Variation 2

Liberace Walter Valentino Liberace, or just Liberace (pronounced lib-er-ah-chee) had his debut at age 20 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  He is one of the highest paid musicians and pianists of all time.  A West Allis, WI native, he made his film debut as a honky tonk pianist in South See Sinner in 1950.  His trademarks include a candle-lit candelabra and increasingly gaudy outfits (he was Elton John before Elton John was Elton John!).  He was a virtuoso in the truest sense of the word, taking already complicated piano rags and solos and adding even more flash and flare.  The candelabra idea came to him after watching the 1945 movie, A Song to Remember, based on the life of Chopin.

Prokofiev Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) is best known for his works Peter and the Wolf, Romeo and Juliet (the ballet), and the Lieutenant Kije suite. 

"Another time after a concert (Prokofiev) told a famous singer, who had just performed a few of his songs, that she did not understand anything about his music and had better stop singing it. He said it in the presence of a large group of startled onlookers and in such a boorish way that he brought the poor fat lady to tears. 'You see,' he continued reprimanding her, 'all of you women take refuge in tears instead of listening to what one has to say and learning how to correct your faults.'"

Nicolas Nabokov, (1951) from Old Friends and New Music

Toscanini  The Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957) began as a cello and composition student at Parma's Royal School of Music (Italy).  He graduated with honors and was noted for his photographic memory.  At age 19, while on tour with an Italian opera company, (he was playing cello in the orchestra ensemble) he was asked to fill in for the conductor.  The opera was the enormous Aida, and Toscanini conducted it from memory.  He continued to accumulate conducting experiences and by age 31, he was conducting Milan's Teatro alla Scala (the most distinguished opera ensemble in Italy).  After proving his world-class abilities, he was made director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in 1930.  He retired from the New York Phil in 1937, but then accepted a position directing the NBC Symphony, an ensemble of musicians of the highest caliber for weekly radio programs.  He retired completely at age 87 and died in his home in the Bronx a few years later, just shy of his 90th birthday.