Steven Gordon; Led Pianists at '84 Olympics

Steven R. Gordon, the classical pianist who coached the 84 pianists who played George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" for the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Olympics, has died. He was 45.

Gordon, who had homes in New York City and Los Angeles, died last Saturday in Los Angeles of lymphoma.

The Santa Monica native performed in the Hollywood Bowl at the age of 9. He studied with Sergei Tarnowsky, the teacher of Vladimir Horowitz, and competed in the Tschaikowsky Competition in Moscow.

Gordon married Nadya Cataldo in 1971, after meeting her at a piano competition, and performed duets with her in major recordings and concerts throughout the United States, Europe and South America.

Their tandem career was the subject of a two-hour television documentary, "Virtuoso Pianist," produced by the Arts & Entertainment Network in 1985. Together they made the first recording of the complete collection of Maurice Ravel's two-piano compositions.

Gordon is survived by his wife and his father, Claude Gordon, of Big Bear Lake.

The family has asked that memorial contributions be made to the UCLA Department of Oncology.

Los Angeles Times 1 July 1990