Edition Peters, part of Wise Music Group, is pleased to announce the signing of a contract for the publication of the complete works of the Jewish Polish-Belarusian composer Lev Moiseyevich Abeliovich (1912-1985).
After more than four decades of silence, the work of Abeliovich, who fled Warsaw in 1939 to escape the Holocaust, is returning to the international music scene. Abeliovich was a close friend of Mieczysław Weinberg and Dmitri Shostakovich, as well as a student of Nikolai Myaskovsky at the Moscow Conservatory. His catalogue, characterised by deep expressiveness, is considered a unique testimony to an artistically lost generation. Important works include his Symphony No. 3, Aria for Violin and Chamber Orchestra and Sonata No. 2 for Piano.
The Belarusian-German pianist and conductor Rostislav Krimer has rediscovered Abeliovich’s works, established contact with his family, and will contribute as editor and interpreter to this significant revival project, which includes previously unpublished compositions. Speaking about the partnership Krimer says,
“It's a significant moment – not only for me personally – but also for the musical world. Abeliovich's music tells stories that are more relevant today than ever before. It deserves to be heard, played, and understood. This includes several works that have never been published before and were in my possession – above all piano sonatas, four symphonies, and much more. It is a huge project, and I am deeply grateful to Edition Peters for realising this historically significant undertaking. It will undoubtedly be a real discovery for the music world."
Edition Peters Group’s Chris Butler comments:
“Lev Abeliovich’s music is both deeply rooted in his Belarusian heritage and strikingly universal in its emotional scope. We are delighted to bring his voice to the international stage and to ensure his works are accessible to performers and audiences worldwide.”
Further reading
Lev Moiseyevich Abeliovich (ort.org)
