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Abba Bogin Biography (1925-)

Addresses: Home: 838 W. End Ave., New York, NY, 10025; Agent: aymond Weiss Concert Management, 200 W. 55 Street, New York, NY, 10019.

Abba Bogin has appeared as guest conductor and/or soloist with various orchestras throughout his career. He was pianist for the New York Philharmonic from1956 to 1962, music editor for Frank Music Corporation from 1958-60, and hasconducted many orchestras on tour in Japan and Romania since 1974. His career began in Wiesbaden, Germany in 1946, moved to the United States in the sameyear, and became international in the mid-1950's. He has worked in virtually every form of music. In the course of his career he has made several appearances at the White House. In 1967 he conducted two performances of Salute to American Musical Theatre for President Lyndon Johnson and in 1968 he was the musical director for a special performance of Fiorello!, also for President Johnson.

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Occupation

musical director, arranger

Famous Works

• Non-Theatrical Career
• Teaching--faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia, piano,1948-52; faculty of the Music School of the Henry Street Settlement, New York, piano, 1955-57; private students: piano, vocal coaching, opera repertoire,arranging, New York; faculty of Greenwood Music Camp, Cummington, MA, 1981-present.
• Debut
• Musical director of GI Symphony Orchestra, Germany, 1945.
• New York Debut
• (as pianist) Town Hall, 1947.
• Principal Stage Work
• Musical Director/Conductor--Greenwillow, Alvin, New York, 1960; How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, 46th Street Theatre, New York, 1961; New Faces of 1962, New York, 1962; The Beauty Part, New York, 1962; Riverwind, New York, 1962; The Megillah of Itzahk Manger, New York, 1968; The Fig Leaves Are Falling, New York, 1969; musical director for the New York City Light Opera Company at the City Center for revivals of: The Most Happy Fella, Guys and Dolls, Where's Charley?, How to Succeed, etc., Finian's Rainbow, Oklahoma!, and Wonderful Town; musical director for more than fifty shows--Broadway, Off-Broadway, and stock between 1950 and 1970; musical director--The ThreepennyOpera, Theatre de Lys, New York, 1957-58; Beggar on Horseback, Repertory Theatre of Lincoln Center, New York, 1970; musical director and arranger--Another Evening with Harry Stoones, 1964; arranger--small orchestra version of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, 1962;Riverwind, 1965; dance music for City Light Opera production of Where's Charley?, 1966; By Jupiter, 1967; Blood Red Roses,1970; opera, musical director--associate, Koanga (U.S. Premiere), Opera Society of Washington, DC, 1970; musical director, Young Artists Opera Company, New York, 1970-72; After Dinner Opera Company, New York, 1970-72; LaBoheme, Queens Opera Company, Summer, 1971; Lyric Opera Theatre of New York, 1972; also musical staff of New York City Ballet, 1953-55, and New YorkCity Opera, 1955.
• Major Tours
• Associate musical director, Peter Pan, national tour, 1950; musical director, Finian's Rainbow, national tour, 1952; musical director, Guys & Dolls, USO tour of Vietnam and Far East, 1967.
• Principal Films
• Musical director/producer (with Mark Bucci), A Time to Play, 1967;musical director and arranger, The Flying Matchmaker, 1970; musical director and arranger, Memorial Day.
• Television Work
• Assistant conductor, Omnibus and Producers' Showcase, 1950's; musical director, American Musical Theatre, 1963-65; associate musical director, The Hero, 1966; musical director and arranger, The Beggar's Opera, 1967; musical director, arranger, and composer,numerous commercial spots, including Mercury, Nesquick, Country Corn Flakes,Esso, and Blue Coal.
• Industrial Shows
• Musical director for Olds-mobile, Ford, Westinghouse, Armstrong Cork, Coca-Cola, and others.
• Recordings
• Musical director--Mrs. Patterson, 1954; Greenwillow, 1960;Riverwind, 1962; musical director and arranger--Politics and Poker; conductor--Songs of Perfect Propriety; pianist--complete Beethoven Sonatas for Cello and Piano (with Janos Starker); Complete Brahms Sonatas for Cello and Piano (with Janos Starker); Mozart and Beethoven,Trios (The Boston Trio); Swanson, Sonata for Cello and Piano (with Carl Stern); Petrouchka (with New York Philharmonic, Dimitri Mitropoulos, conducting); Copland, Clarinet Concerto (with Benny Goodman and New York Philharmonic, Aaron Copland conducting); Bax Sonata for Viola and Piano (with Emanuel Vardi).