Alexander Borovsky Collection
Collection
0476-IPAM
The Alexander Borovsky Collection includes papers, records, and scores relating to Alexander Borovsky, Russian pianist. The collection was donated by Borovsky's friend and student, William Jones. Borovsky performed in over 2,500 concerts worldwide over 47 years, and was generally admired for his playing of Bach, Liszt, and Prokofiev (of whom he was a personal friend). The papers are organized into 9 boxes, spanning 1890-2024 and covering William Jones’ research materials, concert materials of Borovsky—including reception history documents such as articles and newspaper clippings and programs/concert listings—photographs/memorabilia, writings by Borovsky himself, and correspondence, both to/from William Jones and to/from Alexander Borovsky. Expand the menus below for additional information.
6.00 Linear Feet
English
Alexander Borovsky (1889-1968) was a Russian pianist, pedagogue, and prolific performer, giving over 2,500 concerts worldwide across 47 years. Borovsky was a child prodigy, studying with his mother Vera Vengerova—herself an accomplished pianist and student of Vasili Safonov—before enrolling in the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1907, where he studied with Anna Essipova. Borovsky won Honorable Mention in the 1910 Anton Rubinstein Competition, and graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1912 with a gold medal and the sought-after Rubinstein prize. Borovsky then taught at the Moscow Conservatory from 1915-1920, before launching a performance career and concertizing across Europe. He made his American debut at Carnegie Hall in 1923, and routinely performed in North and South America, Europe, and Asia throughout his lengthy public career.
Borovsky is renowned as a Bach interpreter, though he performed a wide and varied repertoire. Borovsky was amongst the first pianists to record the entirety of Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsodies and Bach’s Inventions; he also performed the complete Well-Tempered Clavier in television broadcasts (1958-59). Reviews hail Borovsky for his technical command, good taste, and interpretive refinement. Borovsky also wrote extensively on Bach, in addition to a smaller number of pieces on Chopin, Debussy, and others.
Borovsky collaborated with important conductors such as Serge Koussevitzky, Charles Munch, Leopold Stokowski, Wilhelm Furtwangler, Bruno Walter, and many others. He was a friend of Koussevitzky, performing with him a multitude of times, and premiering Roussel’s Concerto pour piano et orchestre under his baton in Paris in 1928. Borovsky was also a close personal friend and one-time roommate of Sergei Prokofiev, and was well-connected across much of the classical music scene throughout the 20th century.
Borovsky was also a dedicated pedagogue with a large number of students, including Winifred Atwell and Eugen Indjic. Borovsky was appointed to the piano faculty of Boston University in 1956, where he taught a thriving studio. Borovsky lived in Waban, Massachusetts, his home since 1941, until his death in 1968.
William Jones, a student and friend of Alexander Borovsky, compiled and donated the materials found within the Alexander Borovsky Collection.
SERIES DESCRIPTION
Series I- William Jones’ Research Materials
Includes resources from William Jones’ research on Alexander Borovsky, such as information on Borovsky’s genealogy, biography, performances, and recordings.
Series II- Concert Materials: Newspaper Clippings, Articles, and Reviews
Includes reviews, articles, and newspaper clippings predominately surrounding Alexander Borovsky’s concert appearances and performances; also includes information on Borovsky’s students, friends, and colleagues.
Series III- Concert Materials: Programs and Concert Listings
Includes programs, concert announcements, and concert advertisements, predominately surrounding Alexander Borovsky’s concert appearances from 1890-1962; also includes information on Borovsky’s students, friends, and colleagues.
Series IV- Photographs, Memorabilia, and Other Writings
Includes Borovsky’s personal items, such as grade school report cards, passports, diplomas, etc. Also includes writings outside of the scope of reception history, such as lectures and articles written by Borovsky himself. Two scrapbooks of reviews and photographs are also included. Notable individuals depicted include Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Glazunov, Wanda Landowska, Claudio Arrau, and more.
Series V- Correspondence to/from William Jones
Includes letters and emails to and from William Jones, mostly regarding his research on Alexander Borovsky. Amongst those corresponding with him, Lina Prokofiev, Mrs. Koussevitzky, Nicolas Slonimsky, Stephen Walsh, Paul Badura-Skoda are of wide interest. Other names that appear frequently include Henri Nijsten, Olga de Kort, Natasha Borovsky, Natalie King (Borovsky’s step-daughter, and Gregor Benko. The emails are helpful for understanding Mr. Jones’ research process, and they provide significant background information on Borovsky, his relationships, his performances, and his life.
Series VI- Correspondence to/from Alexander Borovsky
Includes letters, post-cards, and mail to and from Alexander Borovsky, as well as a folder dedicated to miscellaneous correspondence. The Borovsky letters span many different languages, and include key figures like Abram Chasins, James Whaler, Serge Koussevitzky, Guillermo Espinosa, and Arthur Fiedler, amongst others.
Series VII- Records and 78s
Includes many of Borovsky’s recordings, such as Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsodies and Transcendental Etudes, as well as many Bach works.
Series VIII- Scores
Includes scores from Alexander Borovsky’s personal collection. Many of these scores have Borovsky’s markings on them, or inscriptions to Borovsky written by composers and friends.
See also the detailed finding aid under inventories/additional information.
Part of the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library