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 51-75 of 136 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Brunswick	X13074	12-in.	5/9/1924	Mélodie	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with cello and piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	13075	10-in.	5/9/1924	Tears	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	13126	10-in.	5/9/1924	Dus wigele	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with piano and organ	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	13129	10-in.	5/9/1924	Die ehre Gottes aus der natur	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	X13130	12-in.	5/9/1924	Umipne chatuenu	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	X13131	12-in.	5/9/1924	Umipne chatuenu	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	13166	10-in.	5/23/1924	Dus wigele	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	13167	10-in.	5/23/1924	Still wie die nacht	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	13168	10-in.	5/23/1924	Die ehre Gottes aus der natur	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	X13169	12-in.	5/23/1924	Umipne chatuenu	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	X13170	12-in.	5/23/1924	Umipne chatuenu	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	6111-6112	10-in.	approximately July 1921	Israel b'tach	Sawel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	X6113-X6114	12-in.	approximately July 1921	Odom yesodoi m'ofor	Sawel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	6185-6186	10-in.	approximately Aug. 1921	Ki hineh Kachomer	Sawel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	6775-6776	10-in.	approximately Nov. 1921	Hashkivenu	Savel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	6777-6778	10-in.	approximately Nov. 1921	Hashkivenu	Savel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	6913-6914	10-in.	approximately Dec. 1921	Schekein chovas	Savel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	6915-6916	10-in.	approximately Dec. 1921	N'kadesch	Savel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	6917-6918	10-in.	approximately Dec. 1921	Wehu rachum	Savel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	8310-8311	10-in.	approximately June 1922	Brochos	Samuel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	8312-8313		approximately June 1922	[Unknown title(s)]	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	9918-9919	10-in.	2/15/1923	Peer v’chovod	Savel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	9920-9921	10-in.	2/15/1923	Hagever	Savel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	X9922-X9923	12-in.	2/15/1923	Ribono shel olom	Samuel Kwartin	Male vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	X9924-X9925	12-in.	2/15/1923	Saroh chajo	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer

(Results 51-75 of 136 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kwartin, Zavel," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106857.

Kwartin, Zavel. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106857.

"Kwartin, Zavel." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.