Simon Barere was born in Odessa, Russia in 1896. Upon graduating from the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1919, he began his concert career. In 1929, Barere settled in Berlin, maintaining a growing concert career. He made his London debut in 1934 and followed that four years later with a debut in New York City. During World War II, Barere settled in the U.S., playing one or more recitals yearly in New York. Audiences and critics acclaimed Barere for the extraordinary level of virtuosity he brought to his interpretations of Chopin, Schumann, Liszt and various Russian composers. In 1951, Barere died on the stage of Carnegie Hall during a performance of the Grieg Concerto with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Listen: Valse Oubliee No. 1 (Liszt)