Demant Lev Semyonovich (1900-1985)

Demant Lev (Leo) Semyonovich (born 4 May 1900, Riga – died 1985, Australia) - pianist, accompanist, music teacher, and critic.

From 1920 to 1932, Lev Demant performed in Riga as a solo pianist and accompanist, collaborating with renowned artists such as Rosa Ratner, Maria de Leone, Marta Wigner‑Grinberg, Elena Nezvanova, Jānis Sproģis, and Ilze Zalmanoviča. Beginning in 1920, he contributed music criticism to the newspaper Segodnya and also wrote for Slovo.

In 1927, he pursued advanced piano studies under Professor Bruno Exner in Vienna. During the 1929–1930 season, he resided in Berlin, where he taught and performed in concerts. Returning to Riga in the summer of 1930, he continued his performance career. In 1933, Demant relocated to Copenhagen, where, as a pianist and accompanist, he promoted Latvian music by performing works by Jāzeps Vītols, Alfrēds Kalniņš, and Jānis Zālītis on Copenhagen Radio, and by delivering lectures on Latvian music on radio in Stockholm and Copenhagen.

Later, he emigrated to Australia, settling in Sydney where he taught piano. He also toured as a performer in Sweden, Norway, Germany, the United Kingdom, and across Central America.

Discography

He recorded several pieces with cellist Leon Arnols on the Bellaccord label, including works by Camille Saint‑Saëns and Jean‑Baptiste Lully.

Selected Bibliography

Segodnya, 4 June 1936: “I.K. Exotic Tour of Lev Demant”

Segodnya Vecherom, 20 August 1938: “Lev Demant Visits Riga”