Yes, love was about to find Estelle. Her new traveling partner in concerts and in life was to be the pianist and composer Moritz Lhevinne. In the book Circuit Chautauqua, author John E. Tapia reports that the Gray-Lhevinne duo was a popular circuit feature between 1913 and 1917, and featured "various combinations of piano, violin, song, and dramatic reading." A brochure from 1915 claimed that their performance would be "humorous, pathetic, thrilling and always inspirational."
Lhevinne was a pianist and a composer, who apparently focused on popular songs (more on that later). He was described thusly in their first joint brochure: "Moritz Lhevinne combines a striking, virile personality with his poetical conceptions and his dramatic insight into the very soul of music. His technique is of the brilliant and flawless surety that marks the born master. The critics are unanimous in their praise of his fluent legato runs and brilliant octave passages. He has the faculty of enthusing people who never before have enjoyed piano solos. When he went into the Chautauqua field he created a sensation." What protected young lass wouldn't fall in love with such a musical partner?
The pairing of the two was meant to be a boost to both their careers. This same brochure also stated that "With the increasing demand for the combination of well-known, successful artists, the announcement that Miss Gray and Mr. Lhevinne, the brilliant Russian pianist, will tour together is noteworthy." At this point, Mama still served as their "personal representative", but the young artists would soon take matters into their own hands.
Lhevinne was a pianist and a composer, who apparently focused on popular songs (more on that later). He was described thusly in their first joint brochure: "Moritz Lhevinne combines a striking, virile personality with his poetical conceptions and his dramatic insight into the very soul of music. His technique is of the brilliant and flawless surety that marks the born master. The critics are unanimous in their praise of his fluent legato runs and brilliant octave passages. He has the faculty of enthusing people who never before have enjoyed piano solos. When he went into the Chautauqua field he created a sensation." What protected young lass wouldn't fall in love with such a musical partner?
The pairing of the two was meant to be a boost to both their careers. This same brochure also stated that "With the increasing demand for the combination of well-known, successful artists, the announcement that Miss Gray and Mr. Lhevinne, the brilliant Russian pianist, will tour together is noteworthy." At this point, Mama still served as their "personal representative", but the young artists would soon take matters into their own hands.
The two wed, perhaps as early as 1915, but without doubt by 1919. They hit on a very successful formula for their concerts, called "Personality Programs." A 1920 account published in "The Crescent," the newspaper of Pacific College in Newburg, Oregon, gives a good description:
"The Gray-Lhevinne concert, given under the auspices of the Monday Music Club at Wood-Mar Hall Friday night, was very successful, for Estelle Gray, violinist, and Mischa Lhevinne, pianist, are very clever entertainers. The concert consisted of story-music which was given originally and simply, in an informal and pleasing manner. Miss Gray, or Mrs. Lhevinne in real life, possesses an unusually pleasing personality and charming stage manner. She told the story of the numbers as they were played, which helped the audience to appreciate their interpretation.
One of the groups they gave was composed of music depicting rural life in a clever and comical way. Miss Gray also demonstrated her ability to play more classical selections, many of which were written by old French masters of composition. Mr. Lhevinne proved himself a brilliant pianist and competent accompanist. Especially pleasing was his playing of Chopin's beautiful and difficult 'Ocean Etude.' The concert was well-patronized by the people of Newburg and the surrounding towns. Many were personally introduced to the Lhevinnes after the close of their program, and many were interested in inspecting Miss Gray's priceless violin and seeing the picture of 'the only boy in the world' [presumably their son, born the previous year]."
"The Gray-Lhevinne concert, given under the auspices of the Monday Music Club at Wood-Mar Hall Friday night, was very successful, for Estelle Gray, violinist, and Mischa Lhevinne, pianist, are very clever entertainers. The concert consisted of story-music which was given originally and simply, in an informal and pleasing manner. Miss Gray, or Mrs. Lhevinne in real life, possesses an unusually pleasing personality and charming stage manner. She told the story of the numbers as they were played, which helped the audience to appreciate their interpretation.
One of the groups they gave was composed of music depicting rural life in a clever and comical way. Miss Gray also demonstrated her ability to play more classical selections, many of which were written by old French masters of composition. Mr. Lhevinne proved himself a brilliant pianist and competent accompanist. Especially pleasing was his playing of Chopin's beautiful and difficult 'Ocean Etude.' The concert was well-patronized by the people of Newburg and the surrounding towns. Many were personally introduced to the Lhevinnes after the close of their program, and many were interested in inspecting Miss Gray's priceless violin and seeing the picture of 'the only boy in the world' [presumably their son, born the previous year]."
A somewhat less sophisticated review was printed in the Red Oak Express of Red Oak, Iowa, in 1921.
"Estelle Gray told of the Old Cremona, her own violin, which was made in 1715 and played the 'Italian Elegy' which was composed in the same year. She pointed out that it is the spirit the master breathes into the violin that makes the music and not age and time for wood and strings. Fine music from a violin, she said, comes when the owner treasures the instrument. Some of the most beautiful numbers played by the artists were 'Fantastic Appassionate' by Vieuxtemps, a French composition which won Estelle Gray her reputation in Europe; 'Zephe' by Hubay, delicate and charming; and 'Danse Macabre' by Saint-Saens. 'The Heart of my Opal,' 'My Song," and "Now It's Up To You' were interesting compositions of the artists themselves. Estelle Gray wrote the words and Lhevinne the music."
"Estelle Gray told of the Old Cremona, her own violin, which was made in 1715 and played the 'Italian Elegy' which was composed in the same year. She pointed out that it is the spirit the master breathes into the violin that makes the music and not age and time for wood and strings. Fine music from a violin, she said, comes when the owner treasures the instrument. Some of the most beautiful numbers played by the artists were 'Fantastic Appassionate' by Vieuxtemps, a French composition which won Estelle Gray her reputation in Europe; 'Zephe' by Hubay, delicate and charming; and 'Danse Macabre' by Saint-Saens. 'The Heart of my Opal,' 'My Song," and "Now It's Up To You' were interesting compositions of the artists themselves. Estelle Gray wrote the words and Lhevinne the music."
By all appearances, the Gray-Lhevinnes appeared to be deeply infatuated with each other. Their several joint compositions, published (perhaps self-published) in 1919, are shameless love songs. The lyrics of "My Song," written by Estelle, feature this last verse:
You are my own dear hills, You are my deep blue sea
I look into your eyes-- they fairly transport me.
You're to me, enchantment
You are my sun and star
God has made you-- all things,
Perfect as you are.
The sheet music for this, and also "Now, It's Up To You," are brought to us by the wonders of the internet and UCLA's Archive of Popular American Music: (http://digital.library.ucla.edu/apam/librarianITEMID=NSO016018
and
http://digital.library.ucla.edu/apam/librarian?ITEMID=NSO018010).
The couple seems to have anticipated modern practice by hyphenating their names together, and in this case, even became a "Brangelina" item for authorship credit.
Sadly, this love was not to last...
RSS Feed