Hambro and Zayde: A Piano Duo Like No Other
For seventeen years, Leonid Hambro (1920-2006) and Jascha Zayde (1911-1999) regularly entertained WQXR audiences through their show Duo Piano Classics. Zayde was the first staff musician hired by WQXR in 1936; the pianist, composer, and conductor told Robert Sherman in a 1986 interview that he was first paired with Clifford Herzer to form the station’s first piano duo. Their weekly collaborations became one of the station's most popular offerings, and the four-handed studio concerts continued with Hambro replacing Herzer in 1947. You can listen to their May 17, 1951 show by clicking the “Listen” button above.
Individually and as a duo, Hambro and Zayde were busy on many other fronts as well. They produced albums together and are noted for their recording of Poulenc’s Sonata for Two Pianos. Additionally, Jascha Zayde was also the staff pianist for the New York City Ballet for more than 25 years, and also conducted the Broadway premieres of two operas by Gian Carlo Menotti: The Medium and The Telephone. After he stopped performing live on WQXR, Zayde directed the station's educational activities and was a judge for its annual musical competitions.
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