Translation of Lexikon: Yi-Kwei Sze, S. 1. Digitale Bibliothek Band 33:
Sängerlexikon, S. 26311 (vgl. Sängerlex. Bd. 5, S. 3781) (c) Verlag K.G. SaurBorn in Shanghai in 1915. He started his career in China, then left his homeland and remained in North America. Here he began a very successful career as a concert singer, after finishing his studies with the famous bass Alexander Kipnis. In 1953 he gave his first concert in New York's Town Hall, (see below - his first concert in New York's Town Hall took place in October 1947. Reviews had been in New York Times, N.Y. Herald Tribune and in Chr. Science Monitor) followed by a second, equally brilliant, concert in Carnegie Hall. After this he engaged in extensive concert tours, first throughout the USA. Later he traveled almost every year to the European music centers in Holland, Germany, France, England and Italy, as well as Australia and New Zealand. As well as Lieder and oratorio, he also sang opera arias, in the concert hall as well as on recordings. Finally (*) he appeared on the opera stage in San Francisco, where he had the same success that he had already had as a recitalist. He was a guest at the operahouses of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and New Orleans, finally even at La Scala of Milan. His most celebrated role was probably Sarastro. In 1966 he was awarded the Edison Prize in Holland. Without question, this Chinese artist possessed one of the most beautiful bass-baritone voices of his generation; the volume of his instrument was as imposing as his interpretive skills. (* in 1950 and 1951)
From LP Iramac 6501:
Yi-Kwei Sze is the first singer to emerge from China who has successfully established a career in Western music under the most rigorous concert and operatic standarts in America, Europe and other parts of the world. Mr. Sze (whose name is pronounced "Yee-Kway Zee"), the youngest child of a Shanghai business man, attended an elementary school conducted by Presbyterian missionaries and there had his first contact with western music in the form of hymns and school songs. It was not until he was seventeen, however, that he began to study music, first as a violinist, soon afterwards as a singer. He was graduated with the highest honors from the National Conservatory of Music in Shanghai, where he studied with Benjamin Ing, a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music. Still in Shanghai, Mr. Sze made his debut as bass soloist in Haydn's "Seasons", followed by performances with the Shanghai Municipal Opera and the Russian Opera Company, excelling in such masterworks as "Rigoletto", "Tosca", "Aida", etc. The war interrupted his brillant career, but in 1945 the 14th American Air force in Kun-Ming was so deeply impressed by Mr. Sze's voice and artistry, that he decided there and then to go to the United States. His American debut in October 1947 at New York's Town Hall was a truly sensational musical event, resulting in the highest possible praise from the press. Nevertheless to say, Yi-Kwei Sze has been a very busy artist ever since. Season after season he fulfills impressive tours as a recitalist (frequently accompanied by that astonishing pianist Brooks Smith, long-time musical partner of Jasha Heifetz), as a leading light with opera companies and as a soloist with the world's major orchestras - singing in at least six languages.
Yi-Kwei Sze is the first singer to emerge from China who has successfully established a career in Western music under the most rigorous concert and operatic standarts in America, Europe and other parts of the world. Mr. Sze (whose name is pronounced "Yee-Kway Zee"), the youngest child of a Shanghai business man, attended an elementary school conducted by Presbyterian missionaries and there had his first contact with western music in the form of hymns and school songs. It was not until he was seventeen, however, that he began to study music, first as a violinist, soon afterwards as a singer. He was graduated with the highest honors from the National Conservatory of Music in Shanghai, where he studied with Benjamin Ing, a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music. Still in Shanghai, Mr. Sze made his debut as bass soloist in Haydn's "Seasons", followed by performances with the Shanghai Municipal Opera and the Russian Opera Company, excelling in such masterworks as "Rigoletto", "Tosca", "Aida", etc. The war interrupted his brillant career, but in 1945 the 14th American Air force in Kun-Ming was so deeply impressed by Mr. Sze's voice and artistry, that he decided there and then to go to the United States. His American debut in October 1947 at New York's Town Hall was a truly sensational musical event, resulting in the highest possible praise from the press. Nevertheless to say, Yi-Kwei Sze has been a very busy artist ever since. Season after season he fulfills impressive tours as a recitalist (frequently accompanied by that astonishing pianist Brooks Smith, long-time musical partner of Jasha Heifetz), as a leading light with opera companies and as a soloist with the world's major orchestras - singing in at least six languages.
From San Francisco Chronicle
Nancy Lee Sze passed away peacefully at her residence in San Francisco on October 18, 2008 at the age of 93. Born in Darien, China, March 1, 1915, Nancy attended the Bethlehem American Missionary School at age seven in Shanghai. She graduated Mary Farham High School where she started piano lessons. Nancy attended the Shanghai National Conservatory of Music where she studied with Boris Lazaroff. After graduating from the Shanghai Conservatory 1936, the conservatory moved to Chungking during WWII and invited her and where she became Head of the Piano Department. Nancy immigrated to America and arrived in New York in 1946, enrolling in the Juillard School of Music. She married bass baritone Yi-Kwei Sze, who had immigrated to America, in 1947. Nancy Sze traveled with Yi-Kwei Sze as his accompanist on his early concert tours.
In 1949, Nancy was accompanist at Yi-Kwei Sze's first of 9 appearances at Carnegie Hall. The Sze's moved to Westport, Connecticut in 1956 where Nancy quickly established herself as a piano teacher teaching privately and at the Westport School of Music through the 1960's. The Sze's moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1972 where Yi-Kwei Sze taught at the Cleveland Institute of Music and where Nancy was on the faculty of the Piano Department. They later relocated to Rochester, New York in 1973 where Mr. Sze became professor of voice at the Eastman School of Music. In 1979, Nancy and Yi-Kwei traveled to Shanghai to give master classes at the Shanghai Conservatory. Yi-Kwei Sze was the first American artist to be invited by the Chinese government to teach voice after the establishment of diplomacy with the United States in 1979. Nancy Sze taught the art of accompaniment during their stay in Shanghai. Upon their return to Eastman, Nancy and Yi-Kwei established an Endowment Fund in 1982 for Chinese students. After their retirement, the Sze's returned to Westport and then moved to the Bay Area where Nancy again established herself as a private piano teacher in both locations.
Nancy Lee Sze passed away peacefully at her residence in San Francisco on October 18, 2008 at the age of 93. Born in Darien, China, March 1, 1915, Nancy attended the Bethlehem American Missionary School at age seven in Shanghai. She graduated Mary Farham High School where she started piano lessons. Nancy attended the Shanghai National Conservatory of Music where she studied with Boris Lazaroff. After graduating from the Shanghai Conservatory 1936, the conservatory moved to Chungking during WWII and invited her and where she became Head of the Piano Department. Nancy immigrated to America and arrived in New York in 1946, enrolling in the Juillard School of Music. She married bass baritone Yi-Kwei Sze, who had immigrated to America, in 1947. Nancy Sze traveled with Yi-Kwei Sze as his accompanist on his early concert tours.
In 1949, Nancy was accompanist at Yi-Kwei Sze's first of 9 appearances at Carnegie Hall. The Sze's moved to Westport, Connecticut in 1956 where Nancy quickly established herself as a piano teacher teaching privately and at the Westport School of Music through the 1960's. The Sze's moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1972 where Yi-Kwei Sze taught at the Cleveland Institute of Music and where Nancy was on the faculty of the Piano Department. They later relocated to Rochester, New York in 1973 where Mr. Sze became professor of voice at the Eastman School of Music. In 1979, Nancy and Yi-Kwei traveled to Shanghai to give master classes at the Shanghai Conservatory. Yi-Kwei Sze was the first American artist to be invited by the Chinese government to teach voice after the establishment of diplomacy with the United States in 1979. Nancy Sze taught the art of accompaniment during their stay in Shanghai. Upon their return to Eastman, Nancy and Yi-Kwei established an Endowment Fund in 1982 for Chinese students. After their retirement, the Sze's returned to Westport and then moved to the Bay Area where Nancy again established herself as a private piano teacher in both locations.