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Press Releases
Virtuoso: The Olga Samaroff Story
Dear Fellow Musicians and Musical America Readers
I wanted to make sure you knew about a new documentary film about the historic American female virtuoso Olga Samaroff, (first wife of the acclaimed conductor, Leopold Stokowski) who has until recently, been unjustly forgotten by the history books, which so often chronicle the conquests of male musicians. This one-hour documentary, plus 46 minutes of Extras, is a work of personal triumph for me as I wrote the biography about Samaroff’s life and now have the privilege of sharing her story on film with the world. Recognition of her many contributions to the world of music in the early 20th Century is long overdue.
Film Title: Virtuoso: The Olga Samaroff Story
Highlights: Olga Samaroff's life at a glance For the full story visit: http://olgasamaroff.com
- Texan-born Lucy Hickenlooper, reinvented herself as Olga Samaroff, and became the first American woman to ever be admitted to the prestigious Conservatoire de Musique in Paris.
- In 1905 Samaroff hired the New York Symphony and rented Carnegie Hall for her American debut.
-Became the leading international American pianist in the early 20th century.
- Samaroff, a personal friend of Thomas Edison was among the first artists to ever record (1908)
- In 1911, Samaroff married Leopold Stokowski, whose talent she discovered and actively promoted.
- In 1924 Samaroff became the only American-born piano faculty member at the Julliard School of Music.
- By the 1930's Samaroff had achieved immense popularity as a teacher and performer.
- Samaroff was the first American pianist to perform all 32 Beethoven Sonatas in concert.
- Samaroff was the first female music critic for a New York daily newspaper
- In 1944, Samaroff gave a series of music appreciation lectures for the American public, for radio and the emerging television industry with the General Electric Company.
Film Trailer: http://olgasamaroff.com/about_trailer.php
Awards:
Remi Winner, 43rd Annual WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection: Tiburon International Film Festival
Berkeley Video and Film Festival Berkeley, California
Grand Festival Documentary Award
Ojai Film Festival—Official Selection
Alexandria Film Festival—Official Selection
For Upcoming Screenings : http://olgasamaroff.com/screenings.php
Accolades for the Film
“This documentary is excellent, [it] evoked a rare emotional response. Great research, delightful music, a remarkable artist we all need to know much more about.” AMICA Bulletin—May/June 2010
”…a riveting, beautiful film [that] reveals the incredible story of a woman of immense talent, charisma and influence…” Garrick Ohlsson, International concert pianist “I loved it. You really brought my mother’s life back to life.” Sonya Stokowski Thorbecke
“Wow! Here is a lovingly produced DVD illustrating the fascinating life of Texas-born Olga Samaroff, nee Lucy Hickenlooper…Donna Kline has produced a fascinating DVD combining photographs and documentary film…illustrating every stage of Madam Samaroff’s career…Throughout this DVD, always in the background is a lot of magnificent piano music, some played by Madam herself and some by former students and colleagues.” Lyn Bronson: California Music Teacher, September/October 2010. Producer/Director – Donna Kline donnaskline@gmail.com
To Order Film go to: www.olgasamaroff.com
Author: An American Virtuoso on the World Stage http://www.olgasamaroff.com
About the Film
Virtuoso portrays the life and times of Texas-born pianist, Lucy Hickenlooper (1880-1948), a remarkable woman who overcame anti-American and anti-female sentiments in a time when Americans were not respected in the international music scene, and women rarely played more than a minor part in mainstream music. Through a series of strategic achievements, and the adoption of the name "Olga Samaroff" she eventually became America's first and perhaps most famous woman pianist of the early 20th century. Overshadowed by her soon-to-be husband, conductor, Leopold Stokowski, whose talent she first recognized and who's career she actively promoted, Samaroff is largely responsible for catapulting Stokowski's conducting career to international acclaim.
Based on An American Virtuoso on the World Stage, by Donna S. Kline, Texas A and M University Press, 1996, Virtuoso: The Olga Samaroff Story is a must-have for musicians, music teachers, music history education and anyone who wants to enjoy the triumphant tale of an American legend. Virtuoso premiered at the Tiburon International Film Festival, March 2010, and is the recipient of the Remi Award--WorldFest Film Festival, Houston, Texas. Virtuoso has also been accepted into the Berkeley Video and Film Festival in Berkeley, California in Sept 24-26, 2010. More than a dozen Samaroff students, family, and colleagues were filmed for this project. Kline and Co-Director/Editor, Wendy Slick, created this film with images from the Stokowski family’s personal photograph collection, the Juilliard School of Music, Lincoln Center for the Arts, Carnegie Hall, the International Piano Archives at the University of Maryland, and historical archival footage from this era.
Cordially,
Donna S. Kline, Producer/Director Virtuoso: The Olga Samaroff Story
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I wanted to make sure you knew about a new documentary film about the historic American female virtuoso Olga Samaroff, (first wife of the acclaimed conductor, Leopold Stokowski) who has until recently, been unjustly forgotten by the history books, which so often chronicle the conquests of male musicians. This one-hour documentary, plus 46 minutes of Extras, is a work of personal triumph for me as I wrote the biography about Samaroff’s life and now have the privilege of sharing her story on film with the world. Recognition of her many contributions to the world of music in the early 20th Century is long overdue.
Film Title: Virtuoso: The Olga Samaroff Story
Highlights: Olga Samaroff's life at a glance For the full story visit: http://olgasamaroff.com
- Texan-born Lucy Hickenlooper, reinvented herself as Olga Samaroff, and became the first American woman to ever be admitted to the prestigious Conservatoire de Musique in Paris.
- In 1905 Samaroff hired the New York Symphony and rented Carnegie Hall for her American debut.
-Became the leading international American pianist in the early 20th century.
- Samaroff, a personal friend of Thomas Edison was among the first artists to ever record (1908)
- In 1911, Samaroff married Leopold Stokowski, whose talent she discovered and actively promoted.
- In 1924 Samaroff became the only American-born piano faculty member at the Julliard School of Music.
- By the 1930's Samaroff had achieved immense popularity as a teacher and performer.
- Samaroff was the first American pianist to perform all 32 Beethoven Sonatas in concert.
- Samaroff was the first female music critic for a New York daily newspaper
- In 1944, Samaroff gave a series of music appreciation lectures for the American public, for radio and the emerging television industry with the General Electric Company.
Film Trailer: http://olgasamaroff.com/about_trailer.php
Awards:
Remi Winner, 43rd Annual WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection: Tiburon International Film Festival
Berkeley Video and Film Festival Berkeley, California
Grand Festival Documentary Award
Ojai Film Festival—Official Selection
Alexandria Film Festival—Official Selection
For Upcoming Screenings : http://olgasamaroff.com/screenings.php
Accolades for the Film
“This documentary is excellent, [it] evoked a rare emotional response. Great research, delightful music, a remarkable artist we all need to know much more about.” AMICA Bulletin—May/June 2010
”…a riveting, beautiful film [that] reveals the incredible story of a woman of immense talent, charisma and influence…” Garrick Ohlsson, International concert pianist “I loved it. You really brought my mother’s life back to life.” Sonya Stokowski Thorbecke
“Wow! Here is a lovingly produced DVD illustrating the fascinating life of Texas-born Olga Samaroff, nee Lucy Hickenlooper…Donna Kline has produced a fascinating DVD combining photographs and documentary film…illustrating every stage of Madam Samaroff’s career…Throughout this DVD, always in the background is a lot of magnificent piano music, some played by Madam herself and some by former students and colleagues.” Lyn Bronson: California Music Teacher, September/October 2010. Producer/Director – Donna Kline donnaskline@gmail.com
To Order Film go to: www.olgasamaroff.com
Author: An American Virtuoso on the World Stage http://www.olgasamaroff.com
About the Film
Virtuoso portrays the life and times of Texas-born pianist, Lucy Hickenlooper (1880-1948), a remarkable woman who overcame anti-American and anti-female sentiments in a time when Americans were not respected in the international music scene, and women rarely played more than a minor part in mainstream music. Through a series of strategic achievements, and the adoption of the name "Olga Samaroff" she eventually became America's first and perhaps most famous woman pianist of the early 20th century. Overshadowed by her soon-to-be husband, conductor, Leopold Stokowski, whose talent she first recognized and who's career she actively promoted, Samaroff is largely responsible for catapulting Stokowski's conducting career to international acclaim.
Based on An American Virtuoso on the World Stage, by Donna S. Kline, Texas A and M University Press, 1996, Virtuoso: The Olga Samaroff Story is a must-have for musicians, music teachers, music history education and anyone who wants to enjoy the triumphant tale of an American legend. Virtuoso premiered at the Tiburon International Film Festival, March 2010, and is the recipient of the Remi Award--WorldFest Film Festival, Houston, Texas. Virtuoso has also been accepted into the Berkeley Video and Film Festival in Berkeley, California in Sept 24-26, 2010. More than a dozen Samaroff students, family, and colleagues were filmed for this project. Kline and Co-Director/Editor, Wendy Slick, created this film with images from the Stokowski family’s personal photograph collection, the Juilliard School of Music, Lincoln Center for the Arts, Carnegie Hall, the International Piano Archives at the University of Maryland, and historical archival footage from this era.
Cordially,
Donna S. Kline, Producer/Director Virtuoso: The Olga Samaroff Story
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