DIRECTORY / LIBRARY OF FAMOUS HISTORICAL CELLISTS
Surname letter starting with S
** Alfred Saal
1881 – ???? (at least 1930’s)
Germany (later USA, and returned to Germany)
Important Activity:
Principal cello Philadelphia Orchestra. Wendling String Quartet (Germany). Professor German conservatoires (which ones are unknown)
Anecdotes:
* In 1906 he played solos in the White House.
** Karel Pravoslav Sádlo
1898 – 1971
Czech
Important Activity:
Profesor Academy of Performing Arts, Prague.
Music/Publications:
a Cello technique book.
Anecdotes:
* Very important Czech teacher – students numbered . Milos Sadlo, Josef Chuchro, František Smetana,Frantisek Sláma and Antonín Kohout
* Owned his own music publishing firm – Edition Sádlo (since 1928)
* was a regular jury member in international cello competitions.
* An incredible story: the famous MILOS Sádlo (1912-2003) was no relation at all. In fact, Milos changed his name twice. Born in Prague as Milos Blaha, when his mother married, he became Milos Zatvrzsky. When Milos was 13, his stepfather abandoned the family and went off to Argentina. At 15, Milos himself took up the cello and had the good fortune to meet Karel Pravoslav Sadlo, a truly inspirational teacher. “For me, K.P. Sadlo was really my father. After two years, I took his name as a stage name, and in 1929 I took it altogether.” !!
** Daniel Saidenberg
1906 – 1997
USA (left birth place Canada as an infant)
Important Activity:
Member Philadelphia Orchestra. Principal cello Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Professor Chicago Music College. Founder Daidenberg Little Symphony Orchestra. Director Connecticut Symphony Orchestra.
Anecdotes:
* Pupil of André Hekking (at Paris Conservatoire).
* He was offered assistant conductor position at New York Philharmonic Orchestra but declined “at the last minute because the contract required him to play his cello as well as conduct” –so instead Bernstein was contracted for his post !
* He later opened an art gallery in New York.
** Hideo Saito
1902-1974
Japan
Important Activity:
Principal cello Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. Founder Toho-Gakuen Music School for children.
Anecdotes:
* Pupil of Klengel and Feuermann.
* Also a gifted conductor.
** Antoni Sala
1893 – 1945
Spain (later USA and Britain)
Important Activity:
Court cellist to Spanish throne.
Premieres:
Made first recording of the John Ireland cello sonata, with the composer at the piano (concert premiere by Beatrice Harrison).
Anecdotes:
* played British works such as the sonatas of Ireland and Bax.
* at periods of his life he was a large-scale farm owner and farmer!
** Gdal Saleski
1888-1966
Ukraine (later USA)
Important Activity:
Member of the Rochester Philharmonic; City Symphony of New York (1922-1923), the New York Symphony (1925); Radio City Music Hall Orchestra; NBC Symphony Orchestra (1937- 1951). In 1951 he moved west to join the Los Angeles Philharmonic for what was to become a 10-year association. He retired in 1961 to become a teacher.
Anecdotes:
* Born in Kiev in the Ukraine, he won a scholarship to the Leipzig Conservatory and later studied in St. Petersburg (now Leningrad) under Alexander Glazunov, the composer.
* By the time he came to the United States after World War I in 1921, he already had a reputation in Europe as an accomplished performer.
* for many years gave annual recitals at Steinway Hall or at Carnegie Recital Hall.
* Mr. Saleski also was a composer. One of his most popular works was his “Suite in Olden Style,” written for string orchestra.
** Joseph Salmon
1864 – 1943
Holland
Important Activity:
Hayot String Quartet
Premieres:
Enescu – Sinfonia concertante (also dedicatee),
Moor – Suite for 4 Cellos (and gave premiere jointly with Casals, A. Hekking, and Alexanian),
Debussy – Cello Sonata (with the composer at piano)
Dedications:
Boëllmann – Variations Symphoniques for cello and orchestra, Op.23.
Anecdotes:
* his career suffered from the supposedly disastrous reception that the Enescu – Sinfonia concertante received at its premiere in 1909.
** Felix Salmond
1888 – 1952
Great Britain (later U.S.A.)
Important Activity:
Piano Quartet with Baeur, Huberman and Tertis. Trio with Paderewski and Zimbalist. Professor Jeuillard School of Music (New York), Professor Curtis Institute of Music.
Premieres:
Elgar – String Quartet,
Elgar – Piano Quintet,
Elgar – Cello Concerto.
Special friendships:
Leonard Rose
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** Herman Sandby
1883 – 1966 (1965?)
Denmark (briefly Britain, then later USA)
Important Activity:
Principal cello Philadelphia Orchestra.
Music:
Own original compositions for cello – his cello concerto was premiered by the Philadelphia Orchestra and Stokowski.
Friendships:
Percy Grainger(Sandby had an Australian wife). Grainger’s Scandinavian Suite (1902) was written with him in mind, though officially dedicated to Hugo Becker.
Anecdotes:
* Pupil of Becker at Frankfurt Conservatory.
* At aged 15 played for Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace.
* Sandby was a life-long vegetarian.
* Lived last forty years of life back in Denmark.
** Joyce Sands
1902 – 1984
Australia, later Canada
Important Activity:
Member Nuysse String Quartet. Cellist Harisay String quartet (Canada). Professor at the TCM. Member Toronto symphony Orchestra (1931-36). Organizer of the Fireside Music Club. Member Arcoda Trio. Cellist Carleton String Quartet (Ottawa), Principal cello Ottawa Philharmonic Orchestra (1957-59).
Premieres:
Morris Kates – 3 Dialogues for cello and piano
Dedications;
Morris Kates – Elegaic Variations (written in her memory 1984)
Anecdotes:
* raised in England, pupil of Hélène Dolmetsch, and later in Antwerp with Arnold Godene.
* lived during 1936-38 in Capetown, and then briefly in England (gave a Wigmore Hall recital). She then returned to Toronto, resuming her position in the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
INFORMATION BY THE CANADIAN ENCYCLOPEDIA
** Johann David Scheidler
1748 – 1802
Germany
Important Activity:
Service Gotha Kapelle
Anecdotes:
* A much liked cellist.
** Johann Georg Christoph Schetky
1737 – 1824
Germany (of Hungarian descendents) (later England, Scotland)
Important Activity:
Member Darmstadt Court Orchestra. Principal cello Edinburgh Musical Society. Patronage of J.C. Bach.
Music/Publications:
He was, with the Earl of Kelly, Scotland’s most important ‘serious’ composer of the 18th century. Works number 6 string quartets and cello sonatas and some cello concertos. He also produced 2 cello methods. Some works were rather ‘scholastic’
Anecdotes:
* father of cellist and composer J. George Schetky.
** J. George Schetky
1776 – 1831
Britain (Scotland) (later USA)
Son of cellist and composer Johann Georg Christoph Schetky, George was also a cellist, and emigrated to the USA where he would soon enjoy success as a music publisher in partnership with another important Philadelphia musical theatre composer, Benjamin Carr. Known as ‘the American Schetky’.
** Adolf Schiffer
1873 – 1950
Hungary
Important Activity:
Quartet ‘Kemény’. Professor Budapest Music Academy.
Music/Publications:
Wrote a Cello School (1931).
Anecdotes:
* pupil of Popper (Budapest Music Academy).
INFORMATION BY TIBOR MOLNAR
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** Philipp Schindlocker
1753 – 1827
Belgium (later Austria)
Important Activity:
Principal cello Vienna Opera Orchestra, St. Stephens, and the Royal Chapel.
Music/Publications:
Own original works, including cello concertos.
Anecdotes:
* Esteemed player, but retired from orchestral playing to devote himself to composition.
** Wolfgang Schindlocker
1789 – 1853
Austria
Important Activity:
Cellist & composer.
Music/Publications:
Own original works, including 3 cello concertos.
Anecdotes:
* Son of Philipp Schindlocker.
** Karl (Carl) Schlesinger
1813 – 1871
Germany
Important Activity:
Principal cello Pesth National Theatre (Budapest). Principal cello Vienna Imperial Opera Orchestra. Hellmesberger Quartet. Professor Vienna Conservatoire.
Premieres:
Volkmann – Cello concerto.
Anecdotes:
* Originally played violin but soon turned to the cello.
* As a teacher his most noted students were: Udel, Sulzer, Hummer, and Hegyesi
** Johann Konrad Schlick
1759 – 1825
Germany
Important Activity:
Member Bishop’s Chapel Orchestra at Miinster. Member Ducal Orchestra at Gotha. Music/Publications: Own original works, including many cello ‘solos’.
** Franz Schmidt
1874 – 1939
Slovakia
Important Activity:
Vienna Court Opera Orchestra (often called upon the play the cello solos under Mahler). He took up a professorship in piano at the Vienna Conservatory, then recently renamed Imperial Academy of Music and the Performing Arts; in 1925 he became Director of the Academy, and from 1927 to 1931 its Rector.
As a composer, Schmidt was slow to develop, but his reputation, at least in Austria, saw a steady growth from the late 1890s until his death in 1939. Works include 2 operas, 4 symphonies, and Four little Fantasy pieces after Hungarian national melodies for cello and piano.
** Jindrich (‘Andre’ or ‘Henry’) Schmidt
1810? 1809? – 1862
Czech
Important Activity:
Count Gudovice Orchestra. Principal cello Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra (Russia), Professor Prage Conservatory.
Anecdotes:
* was only able to fulfill one year teaching at the Prague Conservatoire, due to suffering a stroke. However, in an earlier period was teacher to Carl Davidov.
** Adam Lucjan Schmar
1903 – ????
Poland
Important Activity:
Principal cello Orchestra of Silesia. Professor Wroclaw
Anecdotes:
* pupil of L. Feuillard.
INFORMATION BY DOROTA PUKOWNIK
** Mischa (Mojzesz) Schneider
1904 – 1985
Lithuania
Important Activity:
Chamber Music specialist, cellist for over 35 years of the Budapest Quartet.
Anecdotes:
* He studied cello with Julius Klengel in Leipzig and in Paris with Diran Alexanian
** George Lennart Schnéevoigt
1872 – 1947
Finland
Important Activity:
Principal cello Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor (incl. Kaim Orchestra, now the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra). Founder of the Riga Philharmonic Orchestra. Chief conductor of the Malmö Symphony Orchestra.
Anecdotes:
* A close friend of Sibelius.
** Arnold Schoenberg
1874 – 1951
Austria
Important Activity:
Obviously he was a major twentieth-century composer but also … a self-taught cellist !
Arnold Schoenberg or Schönberg was an Austrian-born composer, music theorist, teacher, writer, and painter. He is widely considered one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. He was associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School. He emigrated to the United States in 1933, becoming an American citizen in 1941. Schoenberg’s approach, bοth in terms of harmony and development, has shaped much of the 20th-century musical thought. Many European and American composers from at least three generations have consciously extended his thinking, whereas others have passionately reacted against it.
** Karl Siegmund Schonebeck
1758 – 1800
Germany
Important Activity:
Cellist Orchestra of Count Dohna. Sorau town musician. Positions at the Court of the Duke of Courland, at Sagan, with Count Truchsez, at Waldenberg, and at Konigsberg.
Music/Publications:
Own original works.
Anecdotes:
* A wanderer who did not stay long in any one position.
** Alwin Schröder
1855 – 1928
Germany
Important Activity:
Played with Laube Kappelle, Hamburg. Principal cello Berlin Symphony Orchestra. Co-principal cello Leipzig Gewandhaus Concerts. Professor Leipzig Conservatoire. Principal cello Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. Kneisel String Quartet. Hess Quartet. Margulies Trio. Boston String Quartet
Dedications:
Hans Sitt – Cello Concerto in D minor, Op.38 (1891)
Busoni – Kleine Suite, Op.23 (vlc and piano)
Popper – Adagio, MInuett and Polonaise, Op.65 (1982) – co-dedicatee with Berger and AndréPopper – High School of Cello Playing Vol. I, Op.73 (1901)
Anecdotes:
* Also initially played professionally the violin and viola !
* At aged 13 he played viola in Duke of Bernburg Quartet, and became Principal viola of Berlin Symphony Orchestra, before ‘switching’ to the cello !
* In Leipzig he shared first desk with Julius Klengel.
* Stayed 12 years in first period with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, during which time he advised Dvorak on his cello concerto ! He returned in two further periods of work with the same Boston orchestra.
** Karl Schröder
1848 – 1935
Germany
Important Activity:
Sonderhausen Hofkapelle (aged 14), family string quartet, Principal cello Brunswick Orchestra, Principal cello Kroll Opera in Berlin, Principal cello Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Professor Leipzig Conservatoire. Founder of Music School of Sonderhausen. Conductor of the Duitse Opera in Rotterdam, Conducting posts at Berlin, and Hamburg (Neues Stadt Theater). Principal Sondershausen Conservatoire (his old music school, now state-run). Professor Stern Conservatory in Berlin.
Music/Publications:
Own original pieces and studies. Editions and arrangements of cello music.
** Carl Schuberth
1811 — 1863
Germany (later Russia)
Important Activity:
Principal cello Magdeburg Stadttheatre, Solo-violoncellist to the Czar of Russia.
Courses in St. Petersburg University, Conductor St. Petersburg Theatre Orchestra, Professor of cello in St. Petersburg and Founder of a Youth Orchestra.
Dedications:
Heinrich Stiehl – Cello Sonata, Op.37 (1860)
Music/Publications:
Many own original works, including a cello concerto.
Anecdotes:
* Pupil of Hesse and Dotzauer.
** Leo Schulz
1865 – 1944
Germany
Important Activity:
Principal cello Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Principal cello Gewandhaus Orchestra (Leipzig), Principal cello Boston symphony Orchestra, member New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Member New York Symphony Orchestra. Professor and conductor National Conservatory. Cellist of Margulies Trio and the Mannes Quartet. Founder Old Masters Trio with violinist Michael Press (who arranged Handel-Halvorsen’s Passacaglia for violin/cello). President of the New York Tonkünstler Society.
Music/Publications:
many own original works and transcriptions.
INFORMATION BY TERRY KING
** Walter Schulz
1893 – 1967
Germany
Important Activity:
Co-principal cello (with Piatigorsky!) Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (under Furtwangler). Professor Staatlich Hochschule fur Musik, Leipzig
Anecdotes:
* Student of Dechert
** Robert Schumann
1810 – 1856
Germany
Important Activity:
He was a German composer, pianist, and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. He learnt the cello in his youth ! He was also friendly with important cellists of the day.
** Joseph Schuster
1903 – 1969
Russian descent (born Constantinople)
Important Activity:
Principal cello Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Principal cello New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Regular recital work with pianist Friedrich Wührer.
Anecdotes:
* originally he was a pupil of Hugo Becker
* played a 1720 Goffriller cello (also owned in history by Emanuel Feuermann and later by Jascha Silberstein).
** Mátyás György Seiber
1905 – 1960
Hungary – Great Britain
Important Activity:
Born in Budapest, but considered a British composer and teacher. The cello was his principal instrument before dedicating himself to composition – born into a musical family, he started to learn the cello at the age of ten, and from 1919 to 1924 studied at the Budapest Academy of Music with Adolf Shiffer (cello) and Kodály (composition).
** Hippolyte Prosper Seligmann
1817 – 1882
France
Important Activity:
Cellist & composer.
Music/Publications:
Own original compositions.
Anecdotes:
* Pupil of Norblin at Paris Conservatoire.
* A touring cellist.
** Norina Semino
1901-1980
(lived) Great Britain
Important Activity:
Cellist of the Zorian String Quartet
Premieres:
The quartet gave the premiere performances of, and made the first recordings of, several string quartets by English composers, including Benjamin Britten and Michael Tippett
** Francesco Serato
1843 – 1919
Italy
Important Activity:
Professor Bologna Conservatoire. Invited Soloist with orchestras.
Dedications:
Cuccoli – Serenata (vlc and piano)
Anecdotes:
* he first studied violin, and in cello he was almost self-taught, observing the greatest performers of his era.
* 45 years in his teaching post, and a celebrated teacher – formed tens and tens of professional cellists!
* entered Bologna Conservatoire in 1871. In 1873 was named ‘Academico Filarmonico’.
* Amongst his students number A. Cuccoli, P. Montecchi, D. Serra, A. Bonucci, B. Mazzacurati and N. Brunelli …
INFORMATION BY CARLOS FRUTUOSO
** Dante Serra
1891 – ????
Italy
Professor Cesana Musical Institute. Professor Bologna Liceo Musical. Heasd professor quartets/chamber music Florence Conservatoire. Cellist of chamber music groups.
Anecdotes:
* pupil of Serato
* worked in Cesena 1919-44, Bologna 1920-25 and Florence 1940-1961.
* teacher of Luigi Silva and Franco Rossi (Italian Quartet).
INFORMATION BY CARLOS FRUTUOSO
** Adrien-François Servais
1807 – 1866
Belgium
Important Activity:
Principal cello Royal Chapel (Belgium), Professor Brussels Conservatoire. Many solo contracts in Russia.
Dedications:
Anton Rubinstein – 1st Cello Sonata,
Nikolay Yusuove – Chant d’amour.
The Russian poets Mikhail Koltzov and Grigoriy Danilevsky dedicated him some of their poems.
Louis Stanlein – Fantaisie Caracteristique sur des motifs hongrois pour Violoncelle avec Accompt. d’Orchestre ou de Piano, Op.4 (c.1850)
Music/Publications:
Many own original works, including the famous ‘Souvenir de Spa’.
Friendships: Franchomme, Berlioz
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** Joseph Servais (son of the famous Servais)
1850 – 1885
Belgium
Important Activity:
Member Weimar Orchestra. Professor Brussels Conservatoire.
Dedications:
Vieuxtemps – Cello Concerto No.2 in B minor, Op.50 (1884)
** Daniil (Daniel) Shafran
1923 – 1997
Russia (USSR)
Important Activity:
Soloist. Recitals with Richter, Enescu, Zecchi Nina Musinyan, Anton Ginsburg and Felix Gottlieb
Premieres:
Kabelevsky – Concertos 1 and 2 (2nd concerto dedicated to him).
Arapov – Cello Sonata
Schnittke – Suite in Old Style
Shchedrin – Imitating Albeniz
Tsintsadze – Five Pieces on Folk Themes
Vlasov – Melody
Anecdotes:
* Recorded Shostakovich – Cello Sonata with composer at piano.
* Performed Khachaturian – Cello Concerto with composer conducting.
** Cedric Sharpe
1891 – 1978
Great Britain
Important Activity:
Principal cello Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, Philharmonic Quartet
Music:
Own original works
Friendships: his playing was admired by Elgar, Barbarolli, Beecham, Ysaÿe, Sammons etc.
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** Friedrich Shrodel
1754 – 1800
Germany
Important Activity:
Cellist.
Anecdotes:
* Considered one of greatest masters on the cello of that period, perhaps surpassing the famous Mara in precision and delicacy
** Luigi Silva
1903 – 1961 (some sources give 1962 and also 1963)
Italy
Important Activity:
Principal cello Rome Opera Orchestra. Professor Venice and Florence conservatoires. Quartetto di Roma, the Mannes-Gimpel-Silva Trio. Professor Eastman School of Music. Professor Juilliard School of Music (New York). Professor at the Peabody Conservatory. Professor Yale University.
Anecdotes:
* Student of Serra and Bonucci.
* Transcribed the entire Paganini Caprices for cello !
* Known as a really excellent teacher for young students
** Karol Skarzynski
1873 – 1957
Poland
Important Activity:
Principal cello Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. Professor Cracow Conservatoire.
Music:
own original works.
Anecdotes:
* pupil of Klengel.
INFORMATION BY DOROTA PUKOWNIK
** Maximilian Skvor
1877 – 1947
Czech
Important Activity:
Cello Professor Brno Conservatoire
** Alojzy Sladek
1858 – 1935
Poland
Important Activity:
Soloist
Anecdotes:
* pupil of Klengel
* career as soloist and teacher.
INFORMATION BY DOROTA PUKOWNIK
** Leo (Joseph Leopold) Smith
1881 – 1952
England, later Canada
Important Activity:
Composer, cellist, writer, teacher. Member Hallé Orchestra. Member (later principal cello) Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Professor Toronto Conservatoire. Principal cello Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra. Toronto Conservatoire String Quartet (1929-41). Cellist Toronto string Quartette, Academy String Quartet. Editor and magazine writer. Critic for ‘Globe and Mail’.
Music/Publications:
Three musical theory text books: ‘Music Rudiments’, ‘Music of the 17th and 18th Centuries’, and ‘Elementary Part-Writing’.
Anecdotes:
* many student works, including an E minor Symphony, were lost.
* studied the cello with W.H. Priestley (Birmingham), then Carl Fuchs (Manchester).
* emigrated to Canada in 1910.
* in Toronto Conservatoire he taught cello, theory, composition and history !
* achieved proficiency on the Viola da gamba.
INFORMATION BY THE CANADIAN ENCYCLOPEDIA
** Rodolphe Soiron
1893 – (???? – at least 1953)
Belgium
Important Activity:
Member of the Concertgebouw Orchestra in 1913. Member of the London Belgian quartet. Director of the Conservatory of Leuven until 1953.
Anecdotes:
* he married Lilian Dalton in Dublin, October 1943
** Josep Soler Ventura
1872 – 1946
Spain (Catalonia)
Important Activity:
Professor Barcelona Municipal Music School
Anecdotes :
* was teacher of Antonio Sala
** William Henry Squire (W.H.Squire)
1871 – 1963
Great Britain
Important Activity:
Principal cello Covent Garden Orchestra (London9, Principal cello Queen’s Hall Orchestra (London), Professor Royal College of Music (London), Professor Guildhall School (London), management team of Performing Rights Society of Great Britain.
Premieres:
first recording of Brahms – Clarinet Trio.
Dedications:
Fauré – Sicilienne, for cello and piano, Op.78.
Music/Publications:
many own original works, especially suitable for young cellists.
Anecdotes:
* pupil of Edward Howell (Royal College of Music, London). Also took lessons from Piatti.
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** Claus Philipp Maria Justinian Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg
1907 – 1944
Germany
He was a German army officer and Catholic aristocrat who was one of the leading members of the failed 20 July plot of 1944 to assassinate Adolf Hitler and remove the Nazi Party from power. He was one of the central figures of the German Resistance movement within the Wehrmacht. For his involvement in the movement he was shot shortly after the failed attempt known as Operation Valkyrie. He also played the cello …
** Bruno Karl Steindl
1864 – 1949
Germany, later U.S.A.
Important Activity:
Principal cello Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (1886-1891). Member Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1891-1918). Principal cello Chicago Grand Opera. Principal cello St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Member Aeolian Trio.
Anecdotes:
* firstly a violinist (his father was music director in the town of Zwickau (south of Leipzig).
* During a tour of the Chicago orchestra, he lost his valuable Carlo Bergonzi instrument (made in 1742) in a head-on railway collision (transporting the heavier instruments of the orchestra). He later acquired an amati cello.
* In 1896-97 season he played a cello obligato solo of Massenet with the orchestra in the ‘University Music Society’.
* He resigned from the Chicago orchestra upon suspitions of his holding a proGerman stance in the war. His wife reportedly committed suicide after his resignation …
** Carl Stern
c.1902- 1971
U.S.A.
Important Activity:
Member of the NBC Symphony Orchestra (1937-1944); American String Quartet; the New York Philharmonic (1944-1964). Mr. Stern retired from the New York Philharmonic after the 1964 season to devote himself to chamber music and master classes at the Dalcroze School of Music. The cellist took part in a number of first performances of contemporary chamber music.
Anecdotes:
* He studied at the Institute of Musical Art in New York where Willem Willeke was his cello teacher.
** Leo (Leopold Lawrence) Stern
1862 – 1904
Britain
Important Activity:
Concert tours with other soloists – Adelina Patti, Sauret, Paderewski, Massenet, Godard, Thomé etc.
Premieres:
Dvorak – Cello Concerto, Op.104 (London, 1896) (* also see below)
Anecdotes:
* pupil of Hugo Daubert, Alessandro Pezze (Royal Academy of Music, London) and Alfredo Piatti. Also Julius Klengel (Leipzig) and Karl Davidov.
* was the favourite cellist of Queen Victoria and often played at Windsor Castle, Balmoral Castle and Osborne House.
* the second performance of the Dvorak concerto was in Prague, three weeks after the first. He also played it with Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic Orchestra … etc.
** Bernard (Vaclav) Stiastny
1760 – 1835
Bohemia
Important Activity:
Principal cello Prague Theatre Orchestra.
Music/Publications:
own original pieces for cello (not highly esteemed).
Anecdotes:
* elder brother of Johann Nepomuk Stiastny.
** Johann Nepomuk Stiastny
1772 – 1825
Bohemia (later Germany, Britain)
Important Activity:
Member Prague Orchestra. Cellist to the Grand Duke at Frankfort. Musical Director of Nuremberg.
Music:
many own original works for cello. Dedicated to English cellist Robert Lindley his Concertino, Op.7.
Anecdotes:
* younger brother of Bernhard (Vaclav) Stiastny.
* one of the most distinguished Bohemian Cellists.
* teacher of Joseph Valentin Dont.
** Edmund Van der Straten
1885 – 1934
Holland
Important Activity:
Cellist, but more famed working in London as an editor. Important treatise on the history of the cello.
Dedications:
Ashton – Arioso (vlc and piano)
** B. Struck (or Stuck)
1682 – 1755
Italy (of a German family) (later lived Germany, France)
Important Activity:
Service of the Countess of Lemos in Naples. Paris in the service of the Duke of Orléans. Member Paris Opera Orchestra. “Musicien ordinaire” of the Royal Chapel Patronage by Louis XIV.
Music/Publications:
commissioned by Louis XIV, to produce theatrical compositions (wrote a long list of ballets and operas specially for Court festivities. However, he produced few or no compositions for cello.
Anecdotes:
* Important for helping implant the Italian school in France.
** Richard Sturzenegger
1905 – 1976
Switzerland
Important Activity:
Member Dreden Opera Orchestra. Berne Quartet. Professor (later director/principal) of Berne Conservatoire. Professor Zurich Musikhochschule.
Music/Publications:
own original works, including 4 cello concertos, choral and chamber music (in tonal styles). Published the first ‘original’ version of Boccherini – Bb major concerto.
Anecdotes:
* Studied Zurich Conservatoire. Then a pupil of Casals and Alexanian (Paris) and Nadie Boulanger. Later studied with Feuermann, and Toch (composition).
* teacher of Walter Grimmer.
** Joachim Stutschewsky
1891 – 1982
Ukraine {based Israel}
Important Activity:
Founder Viennese Trio and Quartet with Rudolf Kolisch. Activities in the area of Jewish music as a composer, cellist, journalist and organizer. He was the spiritus rector of the Societ for the Promotion of Jewish Music. Later dedicated almost exclusively to composing.
Premieres:
Many premieres of works from the new Viennese School (led by Schoenberg).
** Percy Such
1878 – 1959
Great Britain
Important Activity:
Extra cellist with Joachim Quartet, Professor in New York
Dedications:
Donald Francis Tovey – Sonata for solo cello in D Major, Op.38.
Music/Publications:
Own original works, and many editions of cello repertoire.
Special friendships:
Joseph Joachim, Robert Hausmann
Anecdotes:
* one of the last ‘historical’ players never to use a cello end-pin.
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** Guilhermina Suggia
1885 – 1950
Portugal
Important Activity:
Soloist.
Premieres:
Moor – Double Cello Concerto,
Moor – Suite for 2 Cellos,
Tovey – Sonata for Two Cellos (in all works received the dedication along with Casals)
Friendships:
F.L. Sinigaglia, David Popper, Donald Tovey
Anecdotes:
* sentimental partner of Pau Casals c.1906 – 1913
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** Joseph Sulzer
1850 – 1926
Austria
Important Activity:
Italian Opera Orchestra (Vienna) during 4 years. Professor Bucharest Conservatoire. Member Vienna Opera Orchestra, joining in 1875. Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Principal cello Imperial Opera Orchestra (Vienna?). Helmsberg String Quartet (1992-85).
Music/Publications:
some original own pieces for cello. His work was considered of sufficient quality to be published by Breitkopf & Härtel’s…
Anecdotes:
* he was a pupil of Schlesinger (in Vienna).
* an over-exertion led him to pulling out three years from Vienna Opera Orchestra. On his comeback he received informal advice from David Popper!
* he very probably participated in the premieres of various Bruckner Symphonies (and pretty certainly at least including the Symphony No.4).
** Jean Gaspard Isidore de Swert
1830 – 1896
Belgium
Important Activity:
Cellist.
Anecdotes:
* Reported as a ‘distinguished’ cello player
** Jules de Swert {Deswert}
1843 – 1891
Belgium
Important Activity:
Principal cello Dusseldorf Orchestra, Principal cello Weimar Hofkapelle, Principal cello Hofkapelle Berlin, Professor Berlin Hochschule, Trio (with Clara Schumann and Auer), Principal cello Bayreuth Orchestra (and orchestral contractor!), Director Ostend Music School, Professor Ghent and Bruges Conservatory, Principal cello Theatre de la Monnaies (Brussels)
Music/Publications:
Many own original works, operas, and a Cello method
Anecdotes:
* It was Richard Wagner who appointed him to the Bayreuth roles!
* De Swert retired from teaching in order to dedicate himself to composition
Article in JOHNSTONE-MUSIC
** Joseph Szablinski
1809 – 1872
Poland
Important Activity:
Principal cello Imperial Theatre Orchestra, Warsaw.
Anecdotes:
* principal cello in Warsaw for more than 40 years.
* famous as a quartet player, distinguished for fine tone.
INFORMATION BY DOROTA PUKOWNIK
** Stanislaw (Stanislaus) Szczepanowski
1814 – 1875 {1877?}
Poland
Important Activity:
Cellist.
Accomplished on both the cello and guitar, he gave concerts in France, England and Germany.