Russell Sherman, the celebrated American pianist, passed away at the age of 93 in his Lexington home. A poet of the keyboard, Sherman was known for his exceptional insight, majestic technique, and profound grace as a pianist. While he was often compared to luminaries like Maurizio Pollini and Alfred Brendel during his prime, Sherman’s career took a distinct path, one marked by a deep dedication to the study and teaching of music.
Throughout his life, Russell Sherman conveyed a vision of the piano as a source of endless fascination, a refuge, and a gateway to the realm of music’s spirit. He found solace and communion in music, viewing it as a path to exploring the mysteries of solitude and connection.
Born on March 25, 1930, Sherman’s early life was immersed in music. He began studying the piano at the tender age of six and embarked on a transformative 15-year education under the guidance of Eduard Steuermann, a distinguished musician who had himself studied under the renowned composer Arnold Schoenberg and the masterful keyboard artist Ferruccio Busoni.
Steuermann instilled in Sherman not just technical prowess but also a profound understanding of music’s depth and nuances. He encouraged his students to express their unique interpretive personalities, emphasizing the importance of hearing sound in all its colors and shades. This broad approach to sonority became a defining element of Sherman’s interpretations.
Sherman’s professional debut at New York’s Town Hall occurred in 1945 when he was just 15 years old. His academic journey took him to Columbia University, where he continued to refine his piano skills while earning his degree in 1949. However, by 1959, Sherman decided to take a hiatus from his burgeoning performance career. He moved to California to develop a coherent artistic personality, feeling the need to emigrate and nurture his own artistic identity.
His teaching career began at Pomona College and later at the University of Arizona before he settled in Boston in 1967 as the director of the piano department at New England Conservatory (NEC). This marked the beginning of a longstanding connection with NEC, where he would teach for over five decades.
Russell Sherman’s impact on the world of music extended far beyond the stage. He taught numerous private students and became a distinguished artist in residence at NEC. His influence touched many pianists of note, including Craig Smith, Sergey Schepkin, Randall Hodgkinson, Leslie Amper, and Marc-André Hamelin, who described Sherman as “the greatest inspirer there is.”
Sherman’s unconventional career trajectory involved avoiding the traditional concerto circuit, which he likened to a gladiatorial arena, in favor of recitals and teaching. Nevertheless, he graced the stages of major orchestras across the United States, including the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. In total, he performed 13 times with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, captivating audiences with his interpretations of composers from Franz Liszt to John Harbison.
Sherman was also a prolific recording artist and made history as the first American pianist to record Beethoven’s complete sonatas and piano concertos. In 1997, his collection of writings, titled “Piano Pieces,” was published. This book delved into various aspects of piano technique, the art of teaching, and, most significantly, the profound role of music as a conduit to life’s great truths and experiences, including life and death.
Locally, Sherman was celebrated as a recitalist, and his appearances in Boston, which continued well into his 80s, were highly anticipated by music enthusiasts and critics alike. His performances were characterized by his mastery of technique, dynamic range, storytelling imagination, and an unwavering concentration that held audiences spellbound.
Russell Sherman’s profound spirituality and dedication to music remained undiminished in his later years. He projected an image of contentment and Thoreau-like simplicity, finding fulfillment in the 88 keys of the piano and a deep connection to the human experience through music.
Russell Sherman leaves behind a legacy of musical inspiration, teaching excellence, and a profound love for the piano. In addition to his musical contributions, he was a devoted family man. He is survived by his two sons, Edward and Mark, from an earlier marriage. A celebration of Russell Sherman’s life will take place at New England Conservatory in the coming year, and he will be laid to rest at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge. His enduring message to aspiring musicians was to follow their bliss, a sentiment he embodied throughout his remarkable life. To be surrounded always by music, as he believed, is to be lifted up and transported into the boundless realm of artistic expression and spiritual connection.