DAVID SAPERTON (1889-1970)
American pianist

David Saperton was a great pianist and perhaps an even greater teacher if we are to judge from the success of his students among whom were Jorge Bolet, Shura Cherkassky, Abbey Simon, Sidney Foster and Julius Katchen.

For reasons I cannot begin to fathom, Saperton did not achieve any significant success as a concert pianist and dedicated himself to teaching.  He married one of Leopold Godowsky's daughters and set about mastering Godowsky's transcentally difficult studies on the Chopin Études.  Godowsky introduced him to Josef Hofmann who took him on as his assistant and hired him as an instructor at the Curtis Institute.

It is said that by the time of the recordings you will hear below, his pianistic abilities were already subsiding.  God help us.  What must David Saperton's playing have been like as a younger man?

When I was a teenager in the mid 1960s, a friend of my mother's who knew him offered to introduce me and hook me up to take lessons from him.  In my infinite wisdom, I said, "Never heard of him," and politely declined.  I can only imagine . . .

Do not miss the Ravel at the end of this page.

Chopin Études, Op 10

recorded in 1952

2 in A minor
Godowsky-Chopin 4 in A minor "Ignis Fatuus"