Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

Linda Lee Thomas was a renowned classical music artist who made a significant contribution to the world of music. She was born on December 17, 1907, in Louisville, Kentucky, to a family of musicians. Her father, a violinist, and her mother, a pianist, recognized her musical talent at an early age and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. Linda Lee Thomas began her musical training at the age of four, studying piano with her mother. She showed remarkable progress and was soon performing in public. At the age of eight, she made her debut with the Louisville Orchestra, playing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major. Her performance was well-received, and she was hailed as a child prodigy. In 1924, Linda Lee Thomas enrolled at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she studied piano with renowned pianist Josef Hofmann. She graduated with honors in 1928 and embarked on a successful career as a concert pianist. Linda Lee Thomas made her New York debut in 1929, playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Arturo Toscanini. Her performance was a sensation, and she was hailed as one of the most promising young pianists of her generation. Over the next few years, Linda Lee Thomas performed extensively in the United States and Europe, playing with major orchestras and conductors. She was particularly renowned for her interpretations of the works of Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin. In 1933, Linda Lee Thomas married the composer and conductor Aaron Copland. The couple had met at the MacDowell Colony, a retreat for artists in New Hampshire, and had fallen in love. Their marriage was a happy one, and they remained together until Linda Lee Thomas's death. During the 1930s and 1940s, Linda Lee Thomas continued to perform and record extensively. She also collaborated with her husband on several projects, including the ballets "Billy the Kid" and "Rodeo." Linda Lee Thomas's recordings of Chopin's piano music, in particular, were highly acclaimed and remain among the definitive interpretations of these works. In 1951, Linda Lee Thomas suffered a stroke that left her partially paralyzed and unable to perform. She retired from the concert stage but continued to teach and mentor young musicians. She also remained active in the music world, serving on the boards of several music organizations and writing articles and reviews for music publications. Linda Lee Thomas received numerous honors and awards throughout her career. In 1947, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, for her contributions to the arts. She was also a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, the National Medal of Arts, and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Linda Lee Thomas died on July 10, 1996, at the age of 88. She was remembered as a brilliant pianist, a dedicated teacher, and a tireless advocate for the arts. Her legacy lives on through her recordings, her students, and the countless musicians she inspired.

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