January 02

Francesco Canova da Milano (1497–1543) was a celebrated Italian composer and virtuoso lutenist of the Renaissance. Nicknamed 'Il Divino' for his extraordinary skill, he composed numerous ricercars and fantasias for the lute. His works emphasized intricate counterpoint and expressive melodic lines, influencing generations of musicians. Da Milano's music was widely copied across Europe, securing his reputation among the nobility and clergy. He served patrons in Milan, Rome, and possibly France, enjoying high demand for his performances. His surviving compositions are considered masterpieces of 16th-century instrumental music.

Born Jacopo Carucci in Pontorme, Italy, in 1494. A leading figure of the Florentine Mannerist style, his works are celebrated for their elegant distortion and emotional intensity. Pontormo studied under Andrea del Sarto and later became a sought-after portraitist and altarpiece painter. His masterpieces include the Deposition from the Cross in Santa Felicita and numerous frescoes. As an educator, he influenced a generation of artists with his innovative use of color and composition. Despite limited biographical records, his legacy endures through his transformative contributions to Renaissance art.

Born in Prato, Italy, in 1688, Zipoli trained at the Roman College under Alessandro Scarlatti. He became renowned for his virtuosic keyboard works and liturgical compositions. Embracing religious life, he joined the Society of Jesus and was sent to South America as a missionary. During his time in the Jesuit reductions, he composed masses, motets, and instrumental sonatas. Zipoli’s music blends Italian Baroque elegance with missionary zeal, influencing colonial South American culture. His unexpected death in Córdoba, Argentina, in 1726 cut short a unique musical career.

Karl Goldmark (1830-1915) was a Hungarian violinist and composer of the Romantic era. Born in Keszthely, he studied at the Vienna Conservatory and later became a central figure in Vienna's musical circles. His best-known works include the opera Die Königin von Saba and the Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor. Goldmark's music is celebrated for its warm melodies, rich orchestration, and integration of Hungarian and Jewish folk elements. He served as a professor at the Vienna Conservatory, influencing generations of musicians. Despite facing antisemitism, he maintained a respected position in European musical life until his death on January 2, 1915.

Mischa Levitzki (1898-1941) was a Russian-American concert pianist and composer renowned for virtuosic technique and lyrical artistry. Born in Kremenchuk, he studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory under Anna Yesipova. Emigrating to the United States in 1921, Levitzki enjoyed an international career with acclaimed performances across America and Europe. He made extensive recordings for the Victor Talking Machine Company, leaving a legacy of celebrated piano interpretations. Levitzki also composed salon pieces and pedagogical works, reflecting his refined musical sensibility. He taught at the Juilliard School and influenced young pianists until his death on January 2, 1941.

Tex Ritter (1905-1974) rose to fame in the 1930s as a popular country musician, recording hits that showcased his deep, resonant voice. Simultaneously, he starred in dozens of B-Western movies, often performing his own songs on screen and embodying the classic cowboy persona. Ritter's signature song “High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)” became an enduring standard. He was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame for his contributions to the genre. Ritter also helped pave the way for crossover success between music and film in the American West tradition.

Erroll Garner (1921-1977) was a self-taught jazz pianist celebrated for his swinging performance style and inventive harmonies. He rose to prominence in the early 1950s with recordings that highlighted his distinctive right-hand melodic improvisations and buoyant rhythms. Garner's composition “Misty,” introduced in 1954, became a jazz standard covered by countless artists. Despite never learning to read music, he achieved international acclaim, performing at Carnegie Hall and touring worldwide. His joyful approach to jazz left an indelible mark on the genre and inspired generations of musicians.

Rolf Liebermann was born in 1910 in Switzerland to a Franco-German family. He gained recognition for his operas and orchestral works that blended modern and traditional elements. In 1959, he became director of the Hamburg State Opera, revitalizing its repertoire. Later, he served as general manager of the Paris Opera, commissioning contemporary works. Liebermann championed new music and young composers, significantly shaping post-war European opera. He passed away on January 2, 1999, remembered as a visionary leader in the classical music world.

Born in 1926 in London, John Berger began his career as a novelist before turning to art criticism and television. His 1972 BBC series and book 'Ways of Seeing' challenged traditional perspectives by examining the socio-political context of images. Berger applied Marxist theory to art, emphasizing viewer interpretation and the role of power in cultural production. He won the Booker Prize in 1972 for his novel 'G', further showcasing his literary prowess. As a painter, he exhibited works that reflected his critical and poetic sensibilities. Berger's interdisciplinary legacy continues to influence writers, artists, and scholars worldwide.

Daryl Dragon gained fame as 'Captain' in the husband-and-wife duo Captain & Tennille, crafting signature keyboard arrangements for chart-topping songs like 'Love Will Keep Us Together'. Born in Los Angeles in 1942, he studied classical music before venturing into pop and rock genres. Dragon's musicianship and distinctive captain's hat persona became cultural staples of the 1970s music scene. Beyond performing, he contributed to commercial jingles and scores for television. Despite battling Parkinson's disease later in life, he remained a respected figure among peers for his technical skill and creative influence. His collaborative dynamic with Toni Tennille shaped the duo's enduring legacy in American pop music.