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Pioneering pianist Ruth Slenczynska passes away at 101
The last surviving student of Sergei Rachmaninoff, Ruth Slenczynska, died peacefully in California on Wednesday. Renowned for her extraordinary nine-decade career, Slenczynska was 101. Her former pupil, Shelly Moorman-Stahlman, confirmed her death, stating she had been in declining health following a series of falls.
Early life and prodigious talent
Born in 1925 to Polish parents in California, Slenczynska displayed musical brilliance from an early age. She gave her first recital at four and debuted with a full orchestra in Paris by seven. A 1930 Pathé newsreel hailed her as a prodigy, noting her ability to play Beethoven at just five years old.
The New York Times later described her concerts as "an electrifying experience," praising her as a rare gift from nature.
Mentorship under Rachmaninoff and other masters
Slenczynska's father, Josef Slenczynski-a former violinist and head of the Warsaw Conservatory-recognized her potential immediately. By three, she had mastered basic musical theory, prompting the family's move to Europe for advanced training.
In 1934, she met Rachmaninoff after substituting for him in a concert. Initially intimidated, the nine-year-old impressed him by transposing a piece on demand. Their bond endured, and she often wore a Fabergé egg necklace he gifted her. She also studied under Josef Hoffman, Alfred Cortot, and Artur Schnabel, and shared classrooms with composer Samuel Barber.
A life shaped by discipline and reinvention
Slenczynska's childhood was marked by rigorous training, with her father enforcing nine-hour daily practice sessions. In her 1957 autobiography, Forbidden Childhood, she recounted his harsh methods, including dousing her with ice water to curb "babyish" behavior. At 15, she rebelled, abandoning her career to study psychology at the University of California and eloping with a fellow student.
After her divorce in 1953, financial necessity led her back to music. She resumed performing, toured with the Boston Pops Orchestra, and recorded 10 acclaimed LPs for Decca, specializing in Chopin's works. Her 1961 textbook, Music at Your Fingertips, remains a staple for pianists.
Legacy and final years
Slenczynska performed for five U.S. presidents, including a Mozart duet with Harry Truman at the White House. She taught at Southern Illinois University and married political science professor James Kerr, whom she called "the love of my life."
Even in her later years, she remained vibrant. During the 2020 pandemic, she uploaded Beethoven sonatas to YouTube. In 2022, she released her final album, My Life in Music, featuring a poignant Chopin prelude she hoped would accompany her "into heaven."
"This one is good. I would like to have this one played when I ascend into heaven."
Ruth Slenczynska, on recording Chopin's Prelude in F Major
Remembering a musical icon
Moorman-Stahlman recalled Slenczynska's vitality during recent visits, noting she played piano just days before her death. "Always a teacher," she assigned Moorman-Stahlman a Mozart concerto to learn for their next meeting.
Details for a memorial service and tribute concert will be announced soon.
