Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Ervin Nyiregyhazi & Gloria Swanson -previously uncirculated

Hi Everyone,

I just received from Kevin Bazzana - Ervin Nyiregyhazi's biographer - this photo of Ervin Nyiregyhazi with Gloria Swanson before a 1937 concert of Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 2 with Modest Altschuler conducting. This is with license to publicly distribute. The image below is 5978 x 4844 pixels and with fine detail when viewed at actual size.

"PERSONAL PREVIEW: Ervin Nyiregyhazi, dynamic keyboard artist, subdues his famous crashing chords in order not to disturb that pensive look on the face of listening Gloria Swanson. A popular favorite with the Hollywood Motion picture colony, the world famous pianist appears at Trinity Auditorium, Wednesday, January 27, with the Los Angeles Federal Music Project symphony orchestra, in a concert to be widely attended by stage and screen celebrities."

photo credits: L.A. FEDERAL MUSIC PROJECT—Grossi photo

Swanson was a young lass of 37 in this photo which was taken 13 years before she appeared in "Sunset Boulevard." Didn't know she was into Liszt.

I love all these old photos!

Gloria Swanson met Nyiregyhazi at a private recital in 1936 and he later performed at her home. Eventually he proposed marriage.

Swanson was between her fourth and fifth husbands at that point. Then of course, there were the countless affairs. She probably did Nyiregyhazi a big favor by turning him down. HOWEVER - Ervin was married "at least" nine times during his lifetime - so I'm guessing he wasn't too devastated by the rejection.

Unusual looking piano, Art Deco style, do you think?, and a pretty badly posed photo: Nyiregyhazi is sitting on a loveseat, much too low and too close to the keyboard, I would think, for actually playing the piano.

Regards,

I've seen a piano case like that in another black-and-white photo. I wonder if the manufacturer constructed the case with that design or if this is something that was done after the purchase.

In the videos of Nyiregyhazi he sits at a fairly normal height and distance from the keys. It does seem like an odd arrangement to have the piano almost up against the loveseat.

Interesting looking piece of unopened sheet music on the music rack. Obviously NOT the Liszt concerto.

I don't think E.N. spent much time looking at music scores apart from when he was "practicing" in a public library.

Knowing Hollywood actresses at that time I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Ervin was literally "into her".

And from what I've read about Ervin, I assume they were quite close indeed. But enough of this speculative gossip.......

Yeah, let's get to the juicy stuff.

I grew up in LA during the 1950s and 60s. My family knew several folks involved in the entertainment industry. There was never a lack of anything or anyone to talk about.

"...Swanson was between her fourth and fifth husbands at that point. Then of course, there were the countless affairs. She probably did Nyiregyhazi a big favor by turning him down..."

I believe she probably did herself an even greater favor by doing so. After four trips down the aisle (and back again), she may have acquired the ability to spot a bad risk. Having read Bazzannas wonderful book, "Lost Genius," I wouldn't have married him.

All too easy to say, retrospectively. Anyway, what's that expression on Swanson's face? Was it the bad clam dip? Catcalls from the audience? That is not what I would call a pensive expression, unless she was thinking of something horrid, distasteful, or annoying. Maybe some memory of the first four. And while we're on the subject, how about Erwin's expression. Comparatively veiled.

A very interesting photo, especially for a fan of both. Thanks for posting it.

Judging by the plate bolt and the music desk my guess is the piano is a Knabe from the early 1930's.

The book is amazingly well written. K.B. in this book is very good at writing what needs to be said and in just the right way, with a total accuracy and precision that doesn't sacrifice the "message" and expressiveness - not an easy thing to do!


It was my pleasure, and evidently yours as well! I've watched a lot of the old Hollywood movies and forward from there in time through David Lean's work. After David Lean's films there doesn't seem to have been very much from Hollywood that is of durable interest, at least not with me.

Thanks Ed!