Sterne, Teresa

Teresa Sterne, a pioneering producer of classical music, was director of Nonesuch Records from 1965-1979. Sterne was born in Brooklyn on March 29, 1927. Her mother was a cellist, but gave up her career to nurture and teach her daughter. Sterne's father, a violinist, deserted the family when she was 14. Her paternal uncle, Robert Sterne, was a professional violinist and became an important mentor.

Sterne was educated at home by private tutors. She lived with her mother and aunt in what she described as ''a kind of aristocratic poverty." In 1939, when she was 12, Sterne made her professional debut as a pianist, playing Grieg's Piano Concerto with the NBC Symphony Orchestra at Madison Square Garden. The next year she played Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto with the New York Philharmonic at Lewisohn Stadium. She also made several recordings, including renditions of Bach's Italian Concerto, concertos by Rachmaninov and Mozart, and a sonata by David Broekman.

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