Historical Events of March 21
21 March
** 1881 - birth of {Peter} Herman Sandby (Holbaek, Denmark) d.1965
cellist, orchestral principal cello
** 1868 – at a Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra concert, David Popper was cello soloist in the Molique – Cello Concerto. Orchestral works of Brüll, Schubert, and Liszt were also heard.
Conductor: Otto Dessof / At: Tuchlauben
** 1883 - David Popper received a wonderful review on this date from the St. Petersburg Herald:
“Playing his own concerto with extraordinary success on the eighth symphony concert, under the direction of Anton Rubinstein, David Popper added once again to his many triumphs. After the unfortunate reception given the various foreign cellists of this season, one must reluctantly ask himself why it is that artists who are considered famous in other countries cannot make any impression here? The answer to the question is found in the circumstance that Petersburg, spoiled by our great Davidoff, can only recognize greatness in a world-famous artist such as David Popper. Only he can shake our public apathy toward cello performances, and unleash a veritable storm of applause over the difficult terrain of our concert hall. The very interesting program, which was colourful, but stylishly varied, brought the old, the new, and the very new [...]
In his performance, he showed an ideal virtuosity [...] which uses his technique not to enhance himself, but to serve and ornament his art. This is the reason that Popper stands so high, and why we name him an artist 'by the grace of God."
** 1914 - birth of Paul Tortelier (Paris) d.1990
cellist, orchestral principal cello, professor & composer
** 1926 - the cellist Bernard Beers, with Professor D. F. Tovey - piano, gave a recital at Synod Hall (Edinburgh), performing J.S. Bach - Sonata in G minor, J. Roentgen - Sonata in B minor, Op.56, a Cello sonata (not specified) by Boccherini, and Brahms - Sonata in F major, Op.99
** 1937 - Gregor Piatigorsky performed as cello soloist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Thomas Beecham, at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (London)
** 1948 - in the National Gallery of Art, in Washington D.C., a performance was given by cellist Luigi Silva, with Carl Fuerstner /piano
** 1968 – birth of Vincent Courtois (Paris)
jazz and classical cellist
** 1998 – at Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra subscription concerts (on 20th and 21st March), cellist Wolfgang Herzer played as soloist in Bruch – Kol Nidrei, Op.47. Orchestral music of Haydn and Franz Schmidt was also heard. Conductor: Franz Welser-Moest / Musikverein, Golden Hall, Vienna
** 1999 - in the National Gallery of Art, in Washington D.C., a recital was given by David and Tatjana Geringas, cellist and pianist
** 1999 – on this date the premiere was heard of Daniel Léo Simpson’s Cello Concerto in D Major, in Palo Alto, California (but the 1st movement only)
