Sylvia Lent (June 11, 1903 – March 25, 1972) was an American violinist.
Sylvia Lent was born in Washington, D. C., the daughter of composer and cellist Ernest Lent and pianist Mary (Mamie) Simons Lent. [1] Ernest Lent was born and educated in Germany. [2] She studied violin with her cousin, Gilbert Ross (their mothers were sisters), from childhood through studies in Chicago with Leopold Auer. Ross later became a music professor at Cornell University. [3] [4] She also studied with Ovide Musin [5] and Franz Kneisel. [6]
Sylvia Lent made her debut concert tour in Germany, [7] playing in Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig and Munich in 1922. [8] [9] Her New York debut followed in March 1923. [10] By age 23 she had been featured as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the State Symphony Orchestra of New York, and the New York Symphony Orchestra. [11] [12] She played a rare Domenico Montagnana violin made in 1735, a gift from a collector in Minnesota. [13]
Her youthful appearance and small stature were frequently mentioned in reviews of her concerts, even when she was well into adulthood. [14] "She is petite, sylph-like, with an almost childish face and head," mentioned one 1933 newspaper account, before describing her skills. [15] In 1927 she was the youngest artist ever featured on The Atwater Kent Hour radio program. [16] She made one recording for the Victor Talking Machine Company, in 1924. [17]
Sylvia Lent married San Francisco Chronicle art and music critic Alfred Frankenstein in 1935. They had two sons, John and David, and lived in San Francisco, California. [18] She died from a heart attack in 1972, aged 69 years, in San Francisco. [19] Her granddaughter Karen Frankenstein is an opera singer. [20]
Sylvia Lent (June 11, 1903 – March 25, 1972) was an American violinist.
Sylvia Lent was born in Washington, D. C., the daughter of composer and cellist Ernest Lent and pianist Mary (Mamie) Simons Lent. [1] Ernest Lent was born and educated in Germany. [2] She studied violin with her cousin, Gilbert Ross (their mothers were sisters), from childhood through studies in Chicago with Leopold Auer. Ross later became a music professor at Cornell University. [3] [4] She also studied with Ovide Musin [5] and Franz Kneisel. [6]
Sylvia Lent made her debut concert tour in Germany, [7] playing in Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig and Munich in 1922. [8] [9] Her New York debut followed in March 1923. [10] By age 23 she had been featured as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the State Symphony Orchestra of New York, and the New York Symphony Orchestra. [11] [12] She played a rare Domenico Montagnana violin made in 1735, a gift from a collector in Minnesota. [13]
Her youthful appearance and small stature were frequently mentioned in reviews of her concerts, even when she was well into adulthood. [14] "She is petite, sylph-like, with an almost childish face and head," mentioned one 1933 newspaper account, before describing her skills. [15] In 1927 she was the youngest artist ever featured on The Atwater Kent Hour radio program. [16] She made one recording for the Victor Talking Machine Company, in 1924. [17]
Sylvia Lent married San Francisco Chronicle art and music critic Alfred Frankenstein in 1935. They had two sons, John and David, and lived in San Francisco, California. [18] She died from a heart attack in 1972, aged 69 years, in San Francisco. [19] Her granddaughter Karen Frankenstein is an opera singer. [20]