DIRECTORY / LIBRARY OF FAMOUS HISTORICAL CELLISTS

Surname letter starting with X-Y-Z

** Thelma Yellin-Bentwich
1895–1959
born England, however considered an Israeli cellist
Important Activity:
founder on 1915 in London the all-women trio with Myra Hess and Jelly d’Arranyi. In 1921 she founded the Jerusalem Music Society which pioneered high quality weekly concerts of chamber music in Jerusalem. Member of Jerusalem String Quartet with her sister, violinist Margery Bentwich. In 1951 she joined the Israeli String Quartet with Lorand and Alice Fenyves (violins) and Oeden Partos (viola). She appeared with the Philharmonic and radio orchestras and taught cello and chamber music at the academies of music in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Anecdotes:
* She studied at the Royal College of Music in London, and was accepted by Pablo Casals as a private pupil.
* she was one of the most admired cello pedagogues in the country; her plans for a “music gymnasium” for talented children came to fruition in 1962 in Tel Aviv when the Thelma Yellin Gymnasium was opened.

** Eugène Ysaÿe
1858 – 1931
Belgium
Important Activity:
He was a Belgian violinist, composer and conductor born in Liège. He was regarded as “The King of the Violin”, or, as Nathan Milstein put it, the “tzar”. Not only did he compose a Solo Cello Sonata in C Minor, a great work showing the same inspiration and quality than the 6 solo sonatas for violin, but Ysaÿe, besides playing violin and viola, could also do something with the cello!…

** Cornelius Ysselstyn
1904 – 1979
Holland, later Canada
Important Activity:
Cellist Bembeck Quartet. Cellist Parlow Quartet. Member Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and CBC Symphony Orchestra. Professor at RCMT
Anecdotes:
* emigrated to Canada in 1936 (Toronto)
* Pupils include Donald Whitton and Michael Kilburn.
INFORMATION  BY  THE CANADIAN ENCYCLOPEDIA

** Ladislav Zelenka
1881 – 1957
Czech
Important Activity:
Sevcik Quartet. Czech Quartet. Professor Prague Conservatoire. Initial co-organizer and Professor Academy of Music Arts.
Anecdotes:
* Studied with Wihan, Burian and Becker.

** Miklos Zsámboki
1890 – 1961
Hungary
Important Activity:
Member of the Jenö Hubay String Quartet. Professor National Music School, Hungary. Professor Music Academy of Budapest.
Anecdotes:
* pupil of Adolf Schuffer and David Popper.
* member of Hubay’s quartet between 1920-30.
* teacher at Budapest Music Academy for nearly 40 years, from 1921.
INFORMATION  BY  TIBOR MOLNAR

** Johann Rudolf Zumsteeg
1760 – 1802
Germany
Important Activity:
Member Court Orchestra Stuttgart, later ‘kapellmeister’.
Music/Publications:
Highly esteemed composer, works included a cello concerto and delightful two-cello duos. An important influence in the writing of  musical ‘ballads’.
Anecdotes:
* Pupil of Agostino Poll.  

** Nicol Zygmantowski/Zygmuntowski
1771 – 1801
Poland
Important Activity:
By all accounts he was an exceptionally wonderful talent initiating a soloist career, who died very young
INFORMATION  BY  DOROTA PUKOWNIK

** Joseph Zyka
c. 1730 – 1791
Bohemia (later Germany)
Important Activity:
Chapel of the Elector (Dresden).  Chamber virtuoso to King (Berlin).
Music/Publications:
Own original compositions, including several cello concertos (not published).
Anecdotes:
* Resided several years in Prague.