Too little is known of Ilona Kabos (1902?-1973), an incredible Hungarian musician who was a contemporary of Iren Marik and the younger Annie Fischer. Kabos played for Busoni, who was so impressed that he in turn played for her. Only two LPs exist of her playing (recorded by Peter Bartok for his Bartok Records label) with works by Liszt, Bartok, and Kodaly. Her enlghtened musicianship, bold and deliberate tone, sensitivity to each nuance and natural expressivity mark her as a superior musician. Kabos was a formidable teacher who demanded a great deal. She was personally devastated when her husband Louis Kentner left her for a younger woman. Kentner was probably jealous of Kabos' superior artistry all along. A pity his name is more familiar than hers. I've traced a concert recording of Liszt's Gnomenreigen (Budapest, 1956) and an undated BBC performance of Tippett's Piano Concerto. Hopefully more documents will be discovered some day and perhaps Peter Bartok will either republish or allow her discs to be licensed by others.
© Allan Evans, 1996