Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Lazare Saminsky, Prominent Jewish Composer, Dead; Was 76

July 3, 1959
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

Lazare Saminsky, music director emeritus of Temple Emanu-El of New York and composer and director who conducted music on three continents, died here yesterday of a stroke at the age of 76.

Mr. Saminsky was director for many years of the Three Choirs Festival in New York. He introduced many Russian and American works, including his own in his career as a conductor. Many of his ballets, orchestral works and chamber music were based on Jewish and Biblical themes. Sacred songs of Palestine were prominent in his choral works.

Born in Odessa, he studied at the Moscow and St. Petersburg Conservatories and made his conducting debut in Moscow when he was 31. He fled from Russia during the Revolution to Britain and came to the United States in 1920 after serving as a director in Britain and France.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement