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 26-50 of 136 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor [Trial 1920-12-29-04] 10-in. 12/29/1920 Odom yasodo m'ofor Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal  
Columbia 38670 10-in. 3/4/1913 Sim shulom Alter Yehiel Karniol Male vocal solo, with chorus composer  
Brunswick X6188 12-in. approximately Aug. 1921 Ovinu malkejnu Sawel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick 6229 10-in. approximately Aug. 1921 Zmiros Sawel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick 6231 10-in. approximately Aug. 1921 Yaale tachnunanu Savel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick 6233 10-in. approximately Aug. 1921 Refoenu Sawel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick 6332 10-in. approximately Aug. 1921 Naaritzcho Savel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with vocal chorus and organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick 6336 10-in. approximately Aug. 1921 Al chet Savel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with vocal chorus and organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick 6384 10-in. approximately Sept. 1921 L'cho neranenu Savel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick [6385a] approximately Sept. 1921 [Unknown title(s)] Samuel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 6798 10-in. approximately Nov. 1921 Yismechu b'malchuscho Savel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick [6799a] approximately Nov. 1921 [Unknown title(s)] Samuel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick 7039 10-in. approximately Jan. 1922 Tal Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick [7040a] approximately Jan. 1922 [Unknown title(s)] Samuel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick X7851 12-in. approximately Apr. 1922 Geshem Samuel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick [7852a] approximately Apr. 1922 [Unknown title(s)] Samuel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick X8405 12-in. approximately July 1922 Y mru Lelohim Sawel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick X8406 12-in. approximately July 1922 Roso deshabos Samuel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick 8407 10-in. approximately July 1922 Nekadesh Samuel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick 8408 10-in. approximately July 1922 A Ingele Samuel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick X9592 12-in. approximately Dec. 1922 Kol nidre Sawel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick X9594 12-in. approximately Dec. 1922 Kol nidre Sawel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick X9596 12-in. approximately Dec. 1922 Ov horachmim Sawel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick 9598 10-in. approximately Dec. 1922 Kadish from Nila Sawel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Brunswick 12570 10-in. 2/20/1924 Mikita Zavel Kwartin Tenor vocal solo, with organ composer, vocalist, tenor vocal  
(Results 26-50 of 136 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kwartin, Zavel," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106857.

Kwartin, Zavel. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106857.

"Kwartin, Zavel." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106857

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