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 76-100 of 136 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Brunswick	X12566-X12567	12-in.	2/20/1924	Yom Kipur Kuton	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	X12568-X12569	12-in.	2/20/1924	B’rich Shemey	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	12571-12572	10-in.	2/20/1924	Lenz	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	X13060-X13061	12-in.	5/8/1924	Rachel’s keiver	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with cello and piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	X13062-X13063	12-in.	5/8/1924	Mélodie	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with cello and piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	13064-13065	10-in.	5/8/1924	Evening	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	13066-13067	10-in.	5/8/1924	Spring song	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	13127-13128	10-in.	5/9/1924	Still wie die Nacht	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	13192-13193	10-in.	5/29/1924	Tears	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	X13194-X13195	12-in.	5/29/1924	Lohengrin beim abscheid	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	X13196-X13197	12-in.	5/29/1924	Sfirus	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	X13198-X13199	12-in.	5/29/1924	Sfirus	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	13200-13201	10-in.	6/3/1924	En kumocho	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	13202-13203	10-in.	6/3/1924	Hagboes hatohra	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	13769-13770	10-in.	9/11/1924	Al hazadikim	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger
Brunswick	13771-13772	10-in.	9/11/1924	Or chodosch	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger
Brunswick	13773-13774	10-in.	9/11/1924	Towin moros	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger
Brunswick	13775-13776	10-in.	9/12/1924	Ismache moshe	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger
Brunswick	13776-13777	10-in.	9/12/1924	Unsane tokef	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger
Brunswick	13779-13780	10-in.	9/12/1924	Kol adonaj	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger
Brunswick	13781-13782	10-in.	9/12/1924	Asoro arozo nilocho	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with organ	vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger
Brunswick	13783-13784	10-in.	9/12/1924	Jehi rozon	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	13785-13786	10-in.	9/12/1924	Jehi rozon	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	13787-13788	10-in.	9/12/1924	W’lo, n’sato	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal, composer
Brunswick	13789-13790	10-in.	9/15/1924	Jechadschehu	Zavel Kwartin	Tenor vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger

(Results 76-100 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.