Zalomonovich Mariya Germanovna (1903-1941)

Zalomonovich (Zalmanovich, Salmanovich) Mariya Germanovna (4.05.1903, Libau, Courland Governorate — 1941, Liepāja) — pianist, teacher. In 1912—18 she studied at the Petrograd Conservatory (classes of A. Yesipova and F. Blumenfeld), which she completed with distinction. In 1920—30 she lived in Berlin, where she studied with N. Medtner and simultaneously pursued concert activities. In 1930 she returned to Riga; from 1932 she was a soloist at Riga Radio. She performed as a soloist (Riga, Liepāja) and also as a concertmaster (with Ya. Ioffe, O. Ryss, A. Mets, R. Stender, and others). She accompanied many guest performers, including Ye. Tsimbalist (Latvian National Opera, 1937). She participated in concerts at the Jewish Minority Theater, including a performance in 1934 of J.S. Bach's Double Concerto conducted by M. Lavry. Ya. Mediņš considered Z. one of the finest interpreters of his piano concerto. She toured Poland (1927) and Estonia (1932, 1937). From 1935 — teacher at the 1st Riga Music Institute. In 1940—41 she taught at the Latvian Conservatory (associate professor). Among her students: R. Gets, Ye. Babchin, R. Aktsina-Zingarenko. She perished in the Holocaust.

Lit.: Sava krāsa varavīksnē. Rīga, 1997.

M. Mikhailets