The Hambourg Conservatory

Russian-born Canadian Musicians: Toronto Musical Scene 1930's

May 12, 2008 Anya Laurence

A brief look at the Hambourg brothers, Mark, Jan, Boris and Clement, who directed a music conservatory in Toronto and were performers of note.

The Hambourg Conservatory was established in Toronto in the 1910 by Michael Hambourg, and flourished for many years in a mansion at Wellesley and Sherbourne Streets in downtown Toronto. Michael's sons were the internationally famous pianist Mark, whom Brahms lauded; the violinist Jan, who was a performer of some rank; Boris, who was the cellist of the Hart House String Quartet for 22 years and Clement, a pianist who spent the latter part of his life as the proprietor of the House of Hambourg, a cafe in downtown Toronto where many jazz performers got their start. The Hambourg Conservatory closed its doors in the 1950s.

Mark Hambourg (1879-1960) did not come to Canada with his father Michael but stayed in Europe where he had a budding career as a concert pianist. He played to appreciative audiences throughout the world, was lauded by Brahms and enjoyed a fabulous career as a piano virtuoso, and while he performed in Toronto on occasion he was never a teacher at the conservatory.

Jan Hambourg (1882-1947) was a violinist of note, but he did not have a major performing career as did his brother Mark. Jan studied with the great Eugene Ysaye and was a scholar of Bach works. He married Isabelle McClung, a society woman who had been intimately involved with the writer Willa Cather for fifteen years and lived a very social life in Paris. In the early years Jan was head of the violin department at the conservatory.

Boris Hambourg (1883-1954) was a cellist and a man who was 'sweet and loving', according to people who knew him. Upon the death of his father, Boris took over the direction of the conservatory and began organizing various chamber groups, He was cellist of the Hart House String Quartet for 22 years and taught at the conservatory for many years. He did, however, mention to cellist Marcus Adeney that he really did not like to teach and offered his pupils to Adeney, who did enjoy teaching. Boris married Maria Beauchope, a pianist ten years his senior who managed the business affairs of the conservatory and also taught piano. She died in 1966 at the age of ninety-four.

Clement Hambourg (1910-1973) was a pianist who lived in the shadow of his famous older brother Mark and consequently never achieved his dream of becoming a concert pianist. He taught at the conservatory for many years and in the middle years of his life, with wife Ruth Nadine, opened a cafe in downtown Toronto where many of the young jazz players received their start. Clement was perhaps thought of as the 'eccentric' Hambourg and thoroughly enjoyed his role as mentor to young jazz talent. His son by an earlier relationship is Dr. Klement Hambourg, violinist.

The Hambourg Conservatory stood for many years in Toronto and contributed greatly to the musical life of the city.

Source

The Brothers Hambourg, by Eroc Koch, Robin Brass, Toronto, 1997.

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