DIRECTORY / LIBRARY OF FAMOUS HISTORICAL CELLISTS
Surname letter starting with M
** Tibor de Machula ‘Tibby’
1912 – 1982
Hungary (later Germany, Holland)
Important Activity:
Principal Cello Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (invitation by Furtwängler),
Principal cello Concertgebouw Orchestra (Amersterdam)
Premieres:
Thärichen – Cello concerto.
Mackeben – Symphonic Ballade
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** Fritz Magg
1914 – 1997
Austria (later USA)
Important Activity:
Principal cello of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. Principal cello Metroplitan Opera Orchestra (New York). Professor Indiana University.
Anecdotes:
* pupil of Paul Grummer (in Berlin), Diran Alexanian (at Ecole Normale de Musique, Paris).
* Worked at Indiana University where Janos Starker also taught.
** Giuseppe Magrini
1857 – 1926
Important Activity:
Professor Milan Conservatoire. Principal cello La Scala Opera Orchestra, Milan.
Music/Publications:
Wrote several pieces for cello, cello methods, and new revised editions of other works.
Anecdotes:
* studied in Naples with Laboccetta and in Milan with Truffi.
* took over from Truffi in Milan Conservatoire, and was to teach there during 40 years.
* was teacher to Enrico Mainardi.
* played in the ‘La Scala’ orchestra during 25 years, playing principal under Verdi and Toscanini.
INFORMATION BY CARLOS FRUTUOSO
** Dezsó Mahalek
c.1890 – 1961
Hungary, later Canada
Important Activity:
Important Canadian professor. Member (at during a time principal cello) Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Member CBC Orchestras. Trios and quartets with de ridder, Koldofsky and Arthur Benjamin.
Friendships:
Emanuel Feuermann, Joseph Malkin
Anecdotes:
* was a child prodigy in native land, and studied with Popper (Budapest), Klengel (Leipzig)
* taught Isaac Mamott, Lorne Munroe, Zara Nelsova and Malcolm Tait.
INFORMATION BY THE CANADIAN ENCYCLOPEDIA
** Enrico Mainardi
1897 – 1976
Italy
Important Activity:
Professor Academy of St. Cecilia (Rome), Professor Berlin Hochschule. Trio (with Kulenkamp and Fischer). Recital duo with Zecchi. Director of short courses in Edinburgh, Lucerne and Mozarteum (Salzburg).
Premieres:
Wagenseil – cello concertos (first modern performance following their discovery in 1953).
Dedications:
Pizzetti – Cello Concerto (1933–4).
Malipiero – Cello Concerto (1937) and Triple Concerto (1938).
Music/Publications:
Own original works. His compositions include four cello concertos, sonatas for cello (unaccompanied and with piano), more than 20 chamber works, songs and orchestral works.
Anecdotes:
*Student of Magrini (Milan) and Becker (Berlin).
* he played Reger’s Fourth Sonata op.116 with the composer at piano.
* a teacher at Rome Santa Cecilia Conservatoire from 1933 to 1968.
* Among his pupils were Siegfried Palm, Erkki Rautio and Joan Dickson
** Joseph Malkin
1879 – 1969
Russia
Important Activity:
Principal cello Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Brussels Quartet. Principal cello Boston Symphony Orchestra, principal cello Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Trio (with brothers). Joint-founder Malkin Conservatory (later director). New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
** Isaac Mamott
1907 – 1964
Canada (of Ukranian family)
Important Activity:
Quartet with Shadwick, Sutter and Hudson. Founder Tudor String Quartet. Member (1941-43) and Principal cello (1943-50) Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Cellist Parlow string Quartet. Principal cello CBC Symphony Orchestra (1952-64). Member of York Concert Society Orchestra. Professor Winnipeg, and at the RCMI.
Premieres:
Weinzweig – Sonata ‘Israel’ (with pianist Leo Berkin).
Anecdotes:
* Began cello at 10 with Dezsó Mahalek, and made radio debut aged 15.
* Students included William Findlay, James Hunter and Rowland Pack.
INFORMATION BY THE CANADIAN ENCYCLOPEDIA
** Luigi Mancinelli
1848 – 1921
Italy
Important Activity:
Principal conductor Metropolitan Opera New York.
He gave the inaugural performance of the Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires). He was supposedly only rivalled by Toscanini (in later years) – unfortunately the recording world arrived late for him.
But … his inspirations were originally both as a Cellist and conductor !
** Katherine Mansfield {Kathleen Mansfield Murry (née Beauchamp}
1888 – 1923
New Zealand [later England]
Important Activity:
author (& cellist!)
Anecdotes:
* She wrote short stories and poetry under the pen name Katherine Mansfield.
* Mansfield played the cello decently as a youngster – in fact, she believed that she would take up professionally!
* Mansfield was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis in 1917 and she died in France aged just 34
** Livio Mannucci
1895 – 1966
Italy (later Britain & the USA)
Important Activity:
A founding member of the Modern Trio in 1918 (later known as the International Trio). Mannucci conducted operatic performances in Turin and Milan. Returning to England, he served as conductor of the Promenade Concerts and the Orchestra da Camera.
Mannucci also worked to bring music to the home front in England during World War I. He later settled in New York, where he became Director of the Brooklyn School of Music in 1951. Beginning in 1956, he also directed the Pro Musica of Connecticut.
Anecdotes:
* He received his early musical training in Italy.
* Mannucci was cello soloist with Sir Henry Wood and his orchestra in a “Proms” concert performance of Richard Strauss’s Don Quixote at the Royal Albert Hall.
** Ignace Mara
c.1721 – 1783
Bohemia
Important Activity:
Chamber cellist to King of Prussia (Frederick II).
Music/Publications:
Own original works (remained in manuscript).
Anecdotes:
* Esteemed cellist in Berlin circles.
** Johann Baptiste Mara
1744 – 1808
Berlin
Important Activity:
Chamber musician to Court of Prussia (Prince Henry). Journeys across much of Europe. Orchestra of Sonderhausen. Musician finally playing in beer houses in Holland.
Music/Publications:
He is known to have written at least two Concertos, twelve Solos with Bass accompaniment, a Duet with Violin, and a Sonata with Bass.
Anecdotes:
* husband of opera singer Gertrud Elisaberg Mara (née Schmeling) – she finally despaired of him, and separated in 1799
* drink finally gained the upper hand, and he died in poverty and sadness
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** Gaston Marchésini
1904 – 1989
France
Important Activity:
Principal cello Paris Opera Orchestra.
Premieres:
Roussel – Duo for bassoon and cello (with Oubradous).
Anecdotes:
* pupil of André Hekking (Paris Conservatoire – first cello prize in 1924).
** Maurice Maréchal
1892 – 1964
France
Important Activity:
Lamoureux Orchestra (Sub-principal cello, later Principal) … (military service).
Professor Paris Conservatoire. Casadeus Trio. Piano quartet (with Févrer, Astruc and Vieux). Examiner Paris Conservatoire.
Premieres:
Ravel – Sonata for Violin and Cello,
Andre Caplett – Épiphanie (1923)
Ibert – Cello concerto (1925),
Honegger Cello Concerto (also dedicatee),
Gaubert – Poeme,
Guy-Ropartz – Trio (1921),
Tansman – Cello sonata,
Durey – Fantasie concertante.
Friendships:
Ravel, Saint-Saens, Durosoir, Tansmann, Ropartz
Anecdotes:
* pupil of Guellet, Feuillard, J.L. Loeb (Paris Conservatoire; also studied conducting with Duklas!)
* his students included Christine Walevska. He was cello professor in Paris conservatoire from 1941-63.
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** Joaquim Marés
1888 – 1964
Spain (Catalonia)
Important Activity:
Trio of Barcelona (founder-member). Professor in Granados and Marshall Music Academy.
Anecdotes:
* teachers unknown, but conducted his advanced studies in Belgium and Berlin.
** Holocaust Victim – Friedrich Mark
1918 – 1945
Terézin String Quartet.
Notes:
The Terézin was a serious quartet within the confines of the prisoner camp, and of high artistic level. F. Mark died in Nazi persecution 19th March 1945 in Dachau – (five days before cellist Robert Dauber suffered similar fate)
** Rudolf Matz
1901 – 1988
Croatia
Important Activity:
Member Zagrebacki Trio and the string quartet SKLAD. Conductor of Zagreb Chamber Orchestra, the Music Society of Intellectuals, the Croatian Singing Societies’ Association, and the Zagreb Physicians’ Choir. Professor of Cello at the Academy of Music in Zagreb. Chicago Chamber Trio.
Anecdotes:
* A pioneer in establishing the field of music therapy as a profession in Croatia
* Teacher of cello master classes and served as a jury member at International Cello competitions.
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** Samuel H. Mayes
1917- 1990
USA
Important Activity:
Philadelphia Orchestra (tutti, later principal cello), Principal cello Boston Symphony Orchestra. Professor Boston University. Chamber music with Joseph Silverstein, Joseph de Pasquale, the Boston Chamber Players and the Zimbler Sinfonietta. Professor New England Conservatory, Hartt College, Interlochen, the Philadelphia Music Academy and Temple University, Eastman School of Music. Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Professor Michigan University. Principal cello Aspen Festival Orchestra and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Premieres:
North-American premiere of Kabelevsky (1st) Concerto (composer conducting).
** Benedetto Mazzacurati
1898 – 1984
Italy
Important Activity:
Principal cello Orquestra Radio EIAR-RAI di Torino (Italia). Founder-member of ‘I Virtuosi di Roma’. Professor Conservatoire of Turin. Professor Academia Chigiana de Sienna.
Music/Publications:
wrote educational pieces for the cello. Worked as an editor of cello music.
Friendships:
Ettore Bonelli
Anecdotes:
* pupil of Serato in Bologna.
* principal cello of the RAI orchestra 1939-52.
* as an artist has played all across the world.
INFORMATION BY CARLOS FRUTUOSO
** Vincenzo Merighi
1795 – 1849
Italy
Important Activity:
Professor Milan Conservatoire
** Josek Merk
1795 – 1852
Austria
Important Activity:
Principal cello Vienna Court Opera Orchestra, Vienna Court Chapel Orchestra. Vienna conservatoire (first Cello professor). Given title of Emperor virtuoso of the Imperial Chamber.
Dedications:
Chopin – ‘Polonaise’ (later to become ‘Introduction and Polonaise Brillante’, Op.3).
Schubert – Geist der Liebe (vocal male quartet).
Gross – Cello Concerto in D minor, Op.14 (c.1832)
Music/Publications:
Own original pieces, and cello studies, including a cello concerto.
Special friendships:
Schubert, Chopin
Anecdotes:
* Pupil of Schindlocker
** James Messeas
1881 – 1955
Holland
Important Activity:
Principal Cello Harrogate Symphony Orchestra. Cellist of Verbruggen String Quartet. Professor at New South Wales Conservatorium of Music
Anecdotes:
* His parents were Spanish, the father being the principal double bass in the Paleis voor Volksvlijt Orchestra (Amsterdam). His uncle was violinist in Paris under Hector Berlioz. Both the father and the uncle provided the young Messeas with his initial musical training
* In 1890, after studying the cello for only 12 months, he made a public recital of Julius Klengel’s Concertino No. 1, Op. 7
* In summer 1918 he was the first cellist to give a performance of the complete cycle of Beethoven and Mendelssohn cello sonatas in Sydney (with Myrtle Meggy at the piano).
* He joined Henri Verbrugghen’s String quartet and in 1915 moved together with the other members of the quartet to Australia – In early 1920s the whole quartet moved further to Minneapolis. Messeas died in 1955 in that city
** Ignacy Antoni Meyer
1830 – 1857
Poland
Important Activity:
Cello soloist and composer.
INFORMATION BY DOROTA PUKOWNIK
** Marian Miedlar
1910 – ????
Poland
Important Activity:
Member Katowice Radio Orchestra.
Music:
author of a ‘Cello School’ method book.
INFORMATION BY DOROTA PUKOWNIK
** Józef Mikulski
1912 – ????
Poland
Important Activity:
Soloist and teacher
Anecdotes:
* pupil of D. Alexanian and Pablo Casals
* was the teacher of Andrzej Orkisz and Aleksander Bronislaw Ciechanski
INFORMATION BY DOROTA PUKOWNIK
** Frank Miller often referred to as the ‘greatest living orchestral cellist’
1912 – 1986
USA
Important Activity:
Philadelphia Orchestra. Principal cello Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. Principal cello NBC Symphony Orchestra, Principal cello Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Chicago Symphony String Quartet . Member Casals Festival Orchestra (Puerto Rico). Conductor Evanston symphony Orchestra. Co-founder Savoyaires (with writer Lilias Circle).
Friendships:
Toscanini, Reiner, Ormandy, Solti.
** David Millar Craig
1878-1965
Scotland
Important Activity:
the BBC’s first Controller for Scotland, a regular cello player in Edinburgh, writer of analytical notes for Scottish orchestral concerts in Glasgow and Edinburgh. He published translations of songs and choruses from German, some of these were for BBC performances; he also wrote libretti for ballet, as well as biographical sketches of concert celebrities.
** George Miquelle
1894 – 1977
France (later USA)
Important Activity:
He joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra but left in 1920 to devote himself to the chamber repertoire. In 1920-1921 he joined the Boston String Quartet (1921) and, in 1923, toured the U.S. with two legendary singers, the soprano Dame Nellie Melba and tenor Tito Schipa. Between 1923 and 1954, he was principal cellist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He frequently performed sonata recitals and chamber music during this time with pianist Ossip Gabrilowitsch, who had been the Detroit orchestra’s conductor from 1918-36. For fifteen years, Miquelle was principal cellist in the Chautauqua Summer Symphony Orchestra. After his retirement in Detroit, he joined the artist faculty of the Eastman School of Music, where he taught until 1966.
Anecdotes:
* He began his studies at the age of five with Emile Dienne at the city’s Conservatory. Before the age of nineteen, Miquelle had won prizes as both the Lille and Paris Conservatories.
* World War I put his professional career on hold, after a brief round of European concerts, but he came the United States in 1918 for an extensive tour with the French Military Band and remained when the tour ended.
** Víctor Mirecki Larramat
1847 – 1921
Spain (origin French-Polish)
Recitalist and chamber music. Professor Escuela Nacional de Música (Spain) later the Conservatorion Superior de Madrid.
Anecdotes:
* Important in bringing the cello advances of Servais and Franchomme to Spain
* He created an important Spanish school; students included Alejandro Ruiz de Tejada, Agustín Rubio, Juan Ruiz Casaux and Pablo Casals.
* He was a founder member of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid
* His daughter Maria Theresa married his student, the cellist Juan Ruiz Casaux, and his son Alexander married Casaux’s sister Carmen.
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** Howard Mitchell
1911 – 1988
USA
Important Activity:
Principal cello National Symphony Orchestra, Washington. Principal conductor National Symphony Orchestra (was also principal conductor of the orchestra from 1949 – 1969, leading them on their first foreign tour).
** Leonardo Moja
1811 – 1888
Italy
Important Activity:
Member Royal Chapel of Turin.
Music/Publications:
he composed a symphony for strings, pieces for cello, and academic pieces.
Anecdotes:
* pupil of Merighi.
INFORMATION BY CARLOS FRUTUOSO
** Carl Monhaupt
1856 – 1941
Germany
Important Activity:
Principal cello Musical Society and of the Orchestral Union at Berne. Professor Berne Music School.
Anecdotes:
* Pupil of brother fritz, and Fr. Grutzmacher.
** Boleslaw Moniuszko (Moniusko)
1845 – 1902 (1903?)
Poland
Important Activity:
Principal cello Warsaw Opera Orchestra.
INFORMATION BY DOROTA PUKOWNIK
** Prospero Montecchi
1860 – ????
Italy
Important Activity:
Professor Rennes Conservatoire. Professor Venice Conservatoire.
Anecdotes:
* born in Bologna (and died in Venice)
* pupil of Serato.
* was the teacher of C. Crepax, E. Guarnieri and E. Martinenghi
INFORMATION BY CARLOS FRUTUOSO
** John Moore
???? – ????
Great Britain
Important Activity:
Cellist Aeolian String Quartet (before Derek Simpson succeeded him in 1956). Chamber music with JohnFrancis, A. Hedges and Gerald Moore.
Anecdotes:
* there exists a fine 1942 recording accompanying the singer Isobel Baillie.
** Madeleine Charlotte Moorman
1933 – 1991
USA
Important Activity:
Advocate for avant-garde music. Referred to as the “Jeanne d’Arc of new music”, she was the founder of the Annual Avant Garde Festival of New York and a frequent collaborator with Korean artist Nam June Paik.
** Isaac Mossel
1870 – 1923
Holland
Important Activity:
Principal cello Concertgebouw Orchestra (Amsterdam), Professor Amsterdam Conservatoire. Trio (with Verhey and Wolff).
Dedications:
Julius Rontgen – Cello Sonata, Op.41 (1900)
Anecdotes:
* At the height of a conflict in Amsterdam, the conductor Mengelberg had demanded that Mossel be thrown out of the Concertgebouw Orchestra – but Mahler was convinced that he could gain mastery over Mossel. For feelings of comradeship Mahler was happy to take over the cellist Isaac Mossel in his Viennese orchestra (not believed to have finally gone).
** Theodore du Moulin
1888 – 1978
U.S.A. (son of French music teacher)
Important Activity:
Member of Chicago Symphony Orchestra 11 seasons (1912-23) and Principal cello during one season (1918-19). Member Zukowski Trio of Chicago. Cellist od Great Lakes string Quartet, later re-named Chicago String Quartet. Chicago Radio Orchestra (1940s).
Anecdotes:
* His wife was also a member of the Chicago Orchestra.
** May Mukle
1880 – 1963
Great Britain
Important Activity:
Trio with sister and Maud Powell
Premieres:
Vaughan Williams – Six Studies in English Folk Song,
Holst – Invocation.
Kodaly – Duo (British premiere),
Ravel – Duo (British premiere).
Dedications:
Thomas F. Dunhill – Variations on an original theme, for cello and piano, Op.18.
William Hurlstone – Cello Sonata (1909)
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** August Theodor Müller
1802 (1803?) – 1875
(Germany)
Important Activity:
Müller Quartet (a celebrated quartet player). Cello teacher.
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** Hippolyte Müller
1834 – 1876
Germany
Important Activity:
Principal cello Munich Court Orchestra. Professor Munich Conservatoire.
Anecdotes:
* Pupil of Mentor.
* Teacher of Gebhard Graf.
** Wilhelm Müller
1834 – 1897
Germany
Important Activity:
The Müller Quartet, The Joachim Quartet.
** Valentin Muller
1830 – ????
Germany
Important Activity:
Professor and Deputy Director of the Brussels Conservatoire. cellist of the Maurin Quartet. member of the Quartet of the Museum Society in Frankfurt-on-the-Maine. Professor at the Frankfurt conservatoire.
Music/Publications:
Occasional composer
Anecdotes:
* Pupil of Mentor.
* he was dedicated the second piece in the Tableaux de genre (Trois Idylles), Op.78, of Jacob Rosenhain “Fête villageoise”composed in 1872-73
** Hans Münch-Holland
1899 – 1971
Germany (born Switzerland)
Important Activity:
Principal cello Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, and Gewandhaus Quartet (succeeding Klengel). Trio (with Claudio Arrau).
** François De Munck (or Demunck)
1815 – 1854
Belgium (later London)
Important Activity:
Professor Brussels Conservatoire. Member Her Majesty’s Theatre Orchestra (London).
Music/Publications:
Only one original work known.
Anecdotes:
* Pupil of Platel.
* A most promising cellist, who later lived a bad disorderly life-style, ruining his career.
* Father of Ernest Demunck.
** (Pierre Joseph) Ernest De Munck (or Demunck)
1840 – 1915
Belgium (later Britain, France, USA)
Important Activity:
Maurin String Quartet. Principal cello Weimar Orchestra.
Anecdotes:
* Son of François Demunck.
* Work finally suffered due to injury to his left-hand.
INFORMATION BY TERRY KING
** Joseph Muntzberger
1769 – 1844
Belgium (of a German family)
Important Activity:
Member Orchestra Theatre Lyrique. Principal cello Opera comique (Paris). Member of Court Orchestra. Member Napoleon the First’s band.
Music/Publications:
Own original works including Sinfonia Concertante (violin & cello), and 5 cello concertos, plus a Method for cello.
Anecdotes:
* Pupil of Van Malder and of his father.
** Peter Muscant
1900 – c. 1988
Britain
Important Activity:
BBC Symphony Orchestra (member, later Principal cello). Member London Symphony Orchestra.
Anecdotes:
* pupil of Walenn.
** A. Muzikant
1860 – 1917
Czech
Important Activity:
Professor Odessa Conservatory, Professor Kiev Conservatory, Professor St. Petersburg Conservatoire.