DIRECTORY / LIBRARY OF FAMOUS HISTORICAL CELLISTS
Surname letter starting with C
** Julius Cabisius
1841 – 1898
Germany
Important Activity:
Member of the Court Kapelle at Lowenberg and Meiningen. Principal cello Stuttgart Royal Orchestra.
Anecdotes:
* Pupil of father, then Julius Goltermann (at Prague Conservatoire)
** Ernest Cahnbley
1875 – 1936
Important Activity:
Principal cello with the orchestras of Hanover, Riga, and St. Petersburg. Principal cello Dortmund Orchestra, and professor in Conservatoire there. Adolf Schiering Quartet (in Wurzburg).
** Antonio Caldara
1670 – 1736
Italy
Important Activity:
Maestro di cappella, Mantua. Patronage from Charles VI of Austria (pretender to Spanish throne).
Music/Publications:
Own original works.
** Antonio Calegari
???? – ????
Italy (later France)
Important Activity:
A composer and ‘cellist born at Padua about the middle of the 18th century, and resided many years at Paris.
** ?. Calmus
???? – 1809
Germany
Important Activity:
A once well-known cellist who worked in Hamburg (Altona) and Dresden
** Douglas Cameron
1903 – 1974
Great Britain
Important Activity:
Principal cello – National Symphony Orchestra (London), Kutcher Quartet. Blech String Quartet, London String Quartet, New London String Quartet, Professor Royal Academy of Music (London), Cello tutor National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** Giovanni Battista Canavasso
1713 – 1784
Italy
Important Activity:
Member Royal Chapel, Paris.
Music/Publications: published various sonatas for the cello
Anecdotes:
* born in Turin, with his brother also a professional violinist (who joined him in Paris).
* was also known as Canavas or Canavaz.
* member of Royal Chapel from 1735-55.
INFORMATION BY CARLOS FRUTUOSO
** Thomas Canivez
1877-1969
Belgium
Important Activity:
Activity as cello soloist, including presentations of unusual (then) ‘modern’ repertoire
** Vera Canning
???? – ????
Great Britain
Important Activity:
Soloist.
Premieres:
Hubert Murrill Cello concerto, No.2, 1951 (but dedicated to Casals)
Anecdotes:
* she was the second wife of the composer Herbert Murrill (1909-1952)
* perhaps the highlight of her career was playing the Dvorak concerto with the Royal Scottish Orchestra conducted by George Szell.
** Andrea Caporale
1700 – 1746
Italy
Important Activity:
Worked under Handel in London (invited by Porpora).
Dedication:
Handel – composed for him the cello solo in opera ‘Deidamia’ (3rd Act).
Music/Publications:
Own original compositions, including 6 cello sonatas and 18 solos.
Anecdotes:
* probably born in Naples.
* Came to London in 1735. Was very successful there, on occasions rivalling Cervetto (the son).
INFORMATION BY CARLOS FRUTUOSO
** Pierre Cardon
1751 – ????
France
Important Activity:
A cellist and singer, who tended to favour singing. Singer in Paris Royal Chapel, and both a Paris singing and cello teacher.
Anecdotes:
* Taught cello by uncle F. Cardon, who was member of Paris Opera Orchestra.
** Pau (Pablo) Casals the ‘Monarch of the Bow’
1876- 1973
Spain (later France, Puerto Rico)
Important Activity:
Sub-principal cello Rheatre orchestra of the Folies Marigny (Paris). Principal cellist Orchestra of Liceu (Barcelona). Founder of The Ecole Normale de Musique Paris (with Alfred Cortot, August Mangeot, and Thibaud) – for many years Pablo Casals gave consultations at the cello class of this school. Founder and chief conductor Orquesta Pau Casals Barcelona. Trio Thibaud-Casals-Cortot. Conductor-cellist-organizer Prades festival (France). Master classes in Switzerland, Italy, Berkeley, California and Marlboro, Vermont.
Dedications:
Glazounov – Concerto Balata, Op. 108.
Herbert Murrill –Cello Concerto No.2 (1951).
Rodrigo – Sonata a la Breve (dedication in memoriam).
Vierne – Cello Sonata in B Minor.
Ralph Vaughan Williams – Fantasia on Sussex Folk Tunes, for cello and orchestra (and he gave the premiere in 1930).
Granados – Elisenda (unfinished small suite) for cello and piano.
Granados – Madrigal, for cello and piano.
Emanuel Moor – Double Cello Concerto
Moor – Suite, Op.117 (vlc and piano)
Moor – Prelude, for cello and piano, Op.123.
Various works of Donald Tovey, including Sonata for Two Cellos.
István Járay-Janetschek – Pavanne Lente (1930).
Casella – Cello Sonata in C minor, Op.8
Manuel Castillo Navarro-Aguilera – ‘Ricercare’ a Pau Casals (1967).
Montsalvatge – Microrapsòdia (A la memoria de Pau Casals – 1976).
Joaquín Rodrigo – Sonata a la breve (1976-1978 – composed in honour of Casals). Enric Casals – Solo Suite in D Major (1973) and the early work ‘Heroica’ (1919).
Music/Publications:
Own original works. Auto-biography ‘Joys and Sorrows; Reflections’ (1973).
Friendships:
Gaspar Cassadó, Grieg (played Grieg’s Cello Sonata with the composer), Kreisler (who called him the ‘Monarch of the Bow’), Yehudi Menuhin, Diran Elexanian.
** Juan Ruiz Casaux
1889 – 1972
Spain
Important Activity:
Professor Madrid Conservatoire. Musical Chief of National Patrimony (Spain). Founder of ‘Agrupación Nacional’ of Chamber Music.
Anecdotes:
* pupil of Mirecki (Madrid), Cros Saint-Ange and André Hekking (Paris).
* once played Strauss – Don Quixote, with the composer conducting.
* Professor in Madrid Conservatoire between 1920-60 – amongst his pupils were the Spanish cellists Enrique Correa, Carlos Baena and Ricardo Vivó.
** Gaspar Cassadó
1897 – 1966
Spain (later Italy; brief spells France and Britain)
Important Activity:
New Trio Ensemble (with d’Aranyi and Hess), recitals with Rubinstein, Zecchi, Iturbi, von Mendelssohn, Hara. Masterclasses Siena Accademia Chigiana, Professor Cologne Musik Hochschule
Premieres:
Rodrigo – Concierto Galante /and dedicatee),
Morera – Cello Concerto,
Joaquín Cassadó (father) – Cello Concerto,
Beethoven – Triple concerto (first ever Barcelona performance),
Bacewicz – Cello Concerto No.2 (written and fp 1963).
Pujol Pons – ‘Una maravilloso fábula’ (A marvellous Tale) – 1922.
Dedications:
Dallapiccola – Ciaccona, Intermezzo e Adagio, for solo cello.
Pfitzner – Cello Concerto No.2 in G Major, Op.42 (1935).
Tomás Buxó Pujadas – Alegro Appassionato, Op.10.
Turina – ‘El Jueves Santo a medianoche’ (Holy Thursday at Midnight) – 1924.
Friendships:
Pau Casals (whom he considered his true ‘master’), the Japanese pianist Hara later became his wife, Dallapiccol, Yehudi Menuhin.
Music/Publications:
Own original works and numerous cello arrangements
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** José María Castro
1892 – 1964
Argentina
Important Activity:
Member Orchestra of Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires. String Quartet of the Sociedad Argentina de Música de Cámara. Principal cello Orquesta de Cámara de la Asociación del Profesorado Orquestal (A.P.O.). Trio and Quartet of the Wagner Association of Buenos Aires. Member Orquesta de Cámara Renacimiento (Argentina).
Principal Conductor Orquesta de Cámara de la Asociación del Profesorado Orquestal (A.P.O.). Conductor Municipal Band of Buenos Aires. Invited conductor Orquesta Sinfónica de Rosario (Argentina). Professor Santa Cecilia Conservatoire, and of Manuel de Falla Municipal Conservatoire. Founder of ‘Grupo Renovación’. General Secretary of the Argentine Composers League.
Music/Publications:
Own original works, including ballet music, concerto for cello and 17 instruments, concerto for orchestra, a Cello sonata, and 3 string quartets.
Anecdotes:
* with a solid cello career he turned his direction to conducting, and music organization.
* a modest, introverted, even austere man who was an important figure in the modernization of the musical scene in Argentina.
INFORMATION BY ARGENCELLO
** Tamburi Cemil Bey
1873 – 1916
Turkey
Important Activity:
Ottoman tambur, yaylı tambur, kemençe, and lavta virtuoso and composer, who also played cello!
** Andreas Ten Cate
1796 – 1858
Holland
Important Activity:
cellist – composer
Music/Publications:
Own original pieces, including 2 cello concertos.
Anecdotes:
* a pupil of Jan Georg. Bertelmann
*In the first instance he was thinking of a career on commerce, but decided for music!
* Mainly devoted his mature career to music of the stage.
** ?. Centola
1894 – ????
Italy
Important Activity:
A noteworthy Naples cellist
** Vasa Cerny
1900 – 1982
Czech
Important Activity:
Principal cello Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Founder-member Janacek String Quartet.
Anecdotes:
* pupil of Jan Burian (Prague Conservatoire).
** Giacomo B. Cervetto
1682 – 1783
Italy (later Britain)
Important Activity:
Cellist London Drury Lane Theatre (later artistic director).
Music/Publications:
Own original works
Anecdotes:
* One of first empresarios/managers in music. Lived to 101 years old.
** James Cervetto
1747 — 1837
Britain
Important Activity:
Member Queen’s Orchestra, Lord Abingdon’s Private Orchestra, Trio (with Clemente and Cramer), Member Consort of Ancient Music, Member Band of the Opera, Member Royal Society of Musicians
Music/Publications:
Own original pieces
Friendships:
Duport brothers, Crosdill
Anecdotes:
* Son of Italian emigrant cellist G.B. Cervetto (1682 – 1783)
* From about 1774 he played at the King’s Theatre and was admired for his skilful accompaniment of recitatives: Banvard records ‘It was his [the Prince of Wales] delight to attend the Italian opera merely to hear Cervetto’s accompaniments of the recitatives which were acknowledged to be unrivalled’.
** Charlie Chaplin
1889 – 1977
Britain (later USA)
It is not generally known that apart from his work as a great actor and film director, Charlie Chaplin was a proficient cellist. More than that, he was also the composer of several cello works. The strange thing is that Chaplin, left-handed, took to the cello playing with the hands the ‘wrong way around’ – and never changed later in life !!
** Louis Charbonneau
1865 – 1927
Canada
Important Activity:
Member Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Founder-member (c.1890) ‘Trio de Montreal’ (with Frantz Jehin-Prume and Émery Lavigne). Quartet (with de Sève, Taranto and O. Zimmerman). Founder of Quebec Musicians’ Association (1917), and its president until 1920.
Anecdotes:
* started the violin, and only changed to cello aged 20! Studied under Alwin Schroeder in Boston.
* teacher of Rodolphe Plamondon
INFORMATION BY THE CANADIAN ENCYCLOPEDIA
** M. Cherniavsky
1893 – 1982
Russia
Important Activity:
Soloist
Anecdotes:
* Student of Wierzbilowieszc, Popper and Walenn.
** Pierre Alexandre François Chevilliard
1811-1877
France
Important Activity:
Professor Paris Conservatoire, Chevilliard Quartet (with Maurin, Sabbatier and Mas)
Music/Publications:
Own studies and cello method
Anecdotes:
* pupil of Norblin.
** Luigi Chiarappa
1890 – ????
Italy
Important Activity:
Principal cello Augusteo Orchestra. Principal cello Santa Cecilia Orchestra, Rome. Italian Quartet. Chamber music profesor Santa Cecilia Conservatoire, Rome.
Anecdotes:
* pupil of G. Magrini in Milan, and Hugo Becker in Berlin.
INFORMATION BY CARLOS FRUTUOSO
** Gilles-Louis Chretien
1754 – 1811
France
Important Activity:
Member Royal Orchestra (Paris). Member Imperial Orchestra.
Music/Publications:
not known any own original compositions, but was a modest writer on musical subjects.
Anecdotes:
* Possessed ‘readiness’ and ‘good tone’ but supposedly without displaying much artistic expression !
* Lost first employment by the French revolution, before being received into imperial Orchestra
** Gaetano Ciandelli
1810? 1814? – ????
Italy
Important Activity:
Famed for the episode with Paganini, his friend. Paganini deposited in him his ‘secret’ to playing, and Ciandella supposedly miraculously improved in just three days ! But, Ciandelli, a cello teacher himself, later considered Paganini’s advice hardly helpful or inspirational, however! …
** Giovanni Battista Cirri
1724 – 1808
Italy (later France, Britain)
Important Activity:
Member Accademia Filarmonica (Bologna). Principal cello Teatro dei Fiorentini (Naples). Maestro di cappella at Forlì Cathedral (succeeding his brother). Chamber musician t0 Duke of York. Director of music to Duke of Gloucester.
Music/Publications:
own original works. His cello sonatas are still well used today by student cellists.
Anecdotes:
* He played solos at the eight-year-old Mozart’s first public concert in London.
* Cellist and organist. In 1739 he was admitted to Holy Orders but decided to pursue a musical career.
* He also participated in the Bach-Abel Concerts, which were very popular at that time.
** ?. Ciyetto
???? – ?????.
Italy
Important Activity:
a ‘cellist active in the latter part of the 18th century
** Raymond Clark
???? – ????
Great Britain
Important Activity:
BBC Symphony Orchestra (sub-principal cello), Principal cello Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Principal cello Philharmonia Orchestra (London). (Ocasional) Principal Cello Royal Opera House Orchestra, London.
Anecdotes:
* almost self-taught – picked up experience playing in pit orchestras in his native Yorkshire!
* his few soloist performances were very noted (once substituting for Fournier in ‘Don Quixote’ many considered his interpretation equal to that of Fournier himself).
** Holocaust Victim – Ernst Cohn – Cellist, trombonist and banjo (light music), born in Cologne 24/01/1892
** (COMTE de) Stainlein, Louis-Charles-Georges-Corneille
1819 – 1867
Hungary
Important Activity:
Concerts in France with Sivori, Ney etc.
Music/Publications:
composer and cellist, wrote chamber music and songs
** Michel Corrette
1709 – 1795
France
Important Activity:
One of the most versatile musicians ever ! Violinist, composer, writer – and cellist … Wrote 2 cello methods, but also methods for flute, organ, viol, harpsichord, accompaniment, double bass, violin, theory, and viola! Also a prolific composer including 6 cello sonatas ‘Les Délices de la Solitude’, Op. 20.
** Bernhard Cossmann
1822 — 1910
Germany
Important Activity:
Grand Opera, Paris. Principal cello Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. Principal cello Weimar Orchestra. Professor Moscow Conservatoire. Professor (and joint-founder) the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt.
Chamber music recitals with Brahms.
Dedications:
Piatti – 12 Caprices
Popper – Mazurka No.1, Op.11 (1874)
Music/Publications:
Many own original pieces and studies
Special friendships: Liszt, Mendelssohn
** Giovanni Battista Costanzi
1704 – 1778
Italy
Important Activity:
Service of Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni. Cellist at S. Luigi dei Francesi in Rome. He was also maestro di capella at various churches in Rome: Madonna di Loreto in 1742, and S. Marco e S. Maria in Vallicella. Maestro di cappella of the Cappella Giulia (Rome).
Music/Publications:
many own original works
** COUNT Mathieu Vielgorsky
1794 – 1866
Russia
Important Activity:
An excellent chamber music cellist of professional ability !
He was dedicated works by:
Romberg – Cello concerto No.7
Schumann – Piano Quartet, Op.7 (and premiered by Clara Schumann, Ferninand David, Niels Gade, and Vielgorsky himself on cello).
Mendelssohn – Cello sonata No.2, Op.58 (he gave the premiere with the composer at piano!).
Also dedicated pieces by Servais and Wieniawsky
** COUNT of Otyka and Nieswiez – Anton HEINRICH RADZIWILL
Alternative spellings: [Antoni Henryk Radziwill / Toni Henryk Radziwiłł Frost / in German: Anton Heinrich Radziwill)}]
1755 – 1833
Poland
Important Activity:
He was appointed by the King of Prussia, in 1815, Governor of the Grand Duchy of Posen. Was an aristocratic Pole – a politician, business-man, cellist, singer, and composer ! Maintained contact with great artists such as Paganini, von Goethe, Chopin, Beethoven. Wrote incidental music to Goethes, also some songs for cello and piano, and cello and guitar.
** Elizabeth Cowling
1910 – 1997
USA
Important Activity:
Professor at Grennsboro – University of South Carolina.
Anecdotes:
* pupil of Bazelaire, Mischa Schneider, Pablo Casals.
* long collaborative work with cellist Luigi Silva. Performance research was a significant part to her career. A dedicated teacher.
* also a Viola da gamba player, teacher and scholar.
** Gilberto Crepax
1890 – 1970
Italy
Important Activity:
Professor Parma conservatoire. Professor Milan Conservatoire. Principal cello La Scala Opera Orchestra, Milan. Principal cello Orchestra Toscanini.
Music:
Wrote educational works. Edited Boccherini sonatas.
Anecdotes:
* pupil of E. Dini and P. Montecchi in Venice.
* Students included Antonio Janigro, M. Anfitheatroff, M. Gusella, B. Vitale, I.N. Albertelli and L. Rossi.
INFORMATION BY CARLOS FRUTUOSO
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** Caspar Cristelli
1730 – ????
Austria (of Italian descent)
Important Activity:
Member Italian Orchestra of Araia. Court musician of Czar Peter II. Service of Archbishop of Salzburg (as cellist and chief composer).
Anecdotes:
* in Araia together with cellist Dall’Oglio.
* Also highly distinguished himself as a cello accompanist to vocal recitatives.
INFORMATION BY CARLOS FRUTUOSO
** Lisa (Barbier) Cristiani
1827 – 1853
France
Important Activity:
Unusual female cellist with short but brilliant soloist career.
Dedications:
Mendelssohn – Song without words (Op.109).
Anecdotes:
* Died whilst trying to undertake a grueling tour of remote Russian and Siberia regions, as had done Servais before her.
* She played a 1700 Stradivarius cello (the ‘Christiani’ cello).
** Saint-Ange Cros
1855 – 1919
France
Professor Paris Conservatoire 1900 – 1917
Anecdotes:
* pupil of Franchomme
* very connected to Paris Conservatoire (Societaire 1882-1906).
** John Crosdill
1755 – 1825
Britain
Important Activity:
Member ‘Concert of Ancient Music’, Member Royal Chapel. Principal cello Orchestra Festivals of the Three Choirs, Member of the King’s Band, Chamber Musician to Queen Charlotte. Member Royal Society of Musicians.
Friendships:
James Cervetto
Anecdotes:
* One of the greatest performers on the ‘cello in his time.
* Taught the Prince of Wales – later King George IV
** Frederick Nicholls Crouch
1808 – 1896
Britain (later USA)
Important Activity:
Member King’s Theatre Orchestra, London. St. Paul’s Cathedral Orchestra, London.
Anecdotes:
* Also a serious composer, works including 2 operas. Most famous song is undoubtedly ‘Kathleen Mavourneen’.
* Tried various commercial and musical undertakings in the USA without apparent success.
* was an occasional trumpet player.
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** Frederick William Crouch
1808 – 1844
Britain
Important Activity:
King’s Theatre Orchestra
Music/Publications: Own original pieces. Wrote a ‘Complete Treatise on the cello’ (1826).
Anecdotes:
* father of cellist Frederick Nicholls Crouch
* Excellent English cellist in the early part of the 19th century.
** Arturo Cuccoli
1868 – 1936
Italy
Important Activity:
Warsaw Trio. Heller String Quartet. Professor Padova Musical Institute.
Music/Publications:
various compositions and a Method for the cello.
Anecdotes:
* firstly studied with his brother, and then Serato.
* as soloist made tours of European and American countries.
* was the teacher to G. Francesconi and C. Oblach.
INFORMATION BY CARLOS FRUTUOSO
** Richard Cudmore
1787 – 1840
Britain
Important Activity:
Cellist. Director of Orchestra of the ‘Gentlemen’s Concerts’ in Manchester
Music/Publications:
Own original compositions.
Anecdotes:
* Pupil of Reinagle.
* Also played violin and piano.
** Marion Cumbo
1899 – 1990
U.S.A.
Important Activity:
Amsterdam Theatre Orchestra (1919). Cellist Negro String Quartet (1920’s). Cellist in Broadway Productions. Soloist with Philadelphia Concert Orchestra (black symphonic group). Emsemble ‘Symphony of the New World’ (1964-78). Member Cosmopolitan Symphony Orchestra, and Senior Musicians’ Orchestra.
Anecdotes:
* pupil of Willem Willeke at Institute of Musical Art (later Juillard School). Also with Leonard Jeler and Bruno Steindl (in Chicago).
* famed for his bold role in the ‘New Negro’ movement, striving for equal rights and access for black musicians in the classical symphonic field.
** François (Jean Baptiste ?) Cupis
1741? 1732? – 1808
France (later Italy)
Important Activity:
Principal cello Opera Orchestra (Paris).
Music/Publications:
Own original pieces, and a Cello method.
Anecdotes:
* Pupil of Berteau.
* Taught Levasseur and J.B. Breval.
* Nothing is known of his later years, after marriage to a celebrated Italian singer in 1794.
** Gabriel Cusson
1903 – 1972
Canada
Important Activity:
A generally all-round musician – he studied cello with Gustave Labelle, but also voice, piano and organ. As a result of winning the Prix d’Europe for cello playing in 1924, he studied with Alexanian (cello) and N. Boulanger (composition) in Paris. Once again in Canada, he taught advanced counterpoint, music theory, and composed orchestral and vocal music.
INFORMATION BY THE CANADIAN ENCYCLOPEDIA
** Eva Czako Janzer
1926 – 1978
India (later Hungary, USA)
Important Activity:
Grumiaux Trio. Professor University of Hanover. Professor Indiana University School of Music.
Anecdotes:
* Pupil Budapest Music Academy, Budapest.
* wife of famed violist Georges Janzer.
** Béla Csuka
1893 – 1957
Important Activity:
Hungarian Trio of Berlin. Principal cello Budapest National Opera (from 1913).
Anecdotes:
* pupil of A. Schiffer and David Popper in Budapest Music Academy.
INFORMATION BY TIBOR MOLNAR
** Aurel Czerwenka
1860 – ????
Hungary (later Germany)
Important Activity:
Principal cello Mannsfeld Orchestra of Dresden. Principal cello of Land Theatre. Professor Steiermark Musical Union, Gratz.
Premieres:
Zemlinsky – Cello Sonata (also dedicatee)
Anecdotes:
* Pupil of Grützmacher in Dresden