Jesús Maria Sanromá
| Jesús María Sanromá | |
|---|---|
Sanroma in 1953.
|
|
| Background information | |
| Born | November 7, 1902 Carolina, Puerto Rico |
| Died | October 12, 1984 San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Pianist |
| Instruments | Piano |
 You may listen to Jesus Maria Sanroma play Liszt Totentanz Paraphrase on "Dies Irae" for Piano and Orchestra on YouTube. |
Jesús María Sanromá (November 7, 1902 – October 12, 1984) was a Puerto Rican pianist. He is considered by many to be one of the 20th century's most accomplished and important pianists.
Sanromá's father, José María, was born in Barcelona, Spain, and studied at a Jesuit Seminary but did not take his final orders to become a priest. After graduation from college, he became a political gadfly writing for a newspaper about the Spanish plebiscite. They recommended he take a hasty retreat to Puerto Rico with all expenses paid by the Spanish Government. He settled in the town of Carolina and later in the town of Fajardo. He sent for his girlfriend, Maria Torra del la Riba, but in 1894, women were not allowed to travel unmarried. They were married by proxy before she traveled to be with him. They had two sons, Juan Bautista born in Trujillo Alto in 1899 and Jesús María in 1902 who was born in Carolina. José Maria earned a living in Fajardo by publishing a newspaper and teaching. Jesús María began playing his father's piano. José realizing his son was talented said, "If you are going to play the piano, then you shall go to school to study." He enrolled him at a music school located in the town of Fajardo to take piano lessons. In 1913, at the age of 11, Sanromá made his debut in the Fajardo Municipal Theater.
In January 1916, Sanromá debuted at the Puerto Rican Ateneo in San Juan, the island's capital. Unknown to him, José de Diego was amongst the public in the audience. So impressed was de Diego with Sanromá that he persuaded the government to give Sanromá a grant of 600 dolares. The grant was to be used to further his musical education in the United States.
Sanromá enrolled in the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts and studied piano with David Sequeira. He graduated in 1920 and was awarded the Mason and Hamlin Prize. Shortly after his graduation he earned the position of official pianist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, becoming the first person ever to receive such an honor. He continued studies with Polish pianist Antoinette Szumowska-Adamowska at NEC from 1920 to 1927, and later took additional classes with Alfred Cortot in Paris (June–July 1927) and with Artur Schnabel in Berlin (September–October 1927).
...
Wikipedia