Historical Events of May 22
22 May
** 1764 - cellist Carlo Graziani announced a concert to be given on 17th May, 1764, at Hickford’s Rooms in Brewer Street, London. The young Mozart was to appear on that occasion, but on account of rehearsals for Giardini's Opera’ “Enea and Lavinia” at the same time, the concert was slightly postponed to 22nd May, when even Giardini paid him the compliment of participating for him, although he had by then given up playing in public. However, Mozart did not appear on account of ‘indisposition'.
** 1846 - birth of Jacques Rensburg (Rotterdam, Holland) d.1910
cellist, orchestra principal cello, chamber musician, teacher, occasional composer
** 1863 - birth of W. Noel Johnson (Repton, Derby, England)
cellist, soloist, composer and teacher; after a spell in Germany, he returned to London as performer and composer, and also concentrated more on conducting where he was conductor of the Criterion Theatre. His compositions include small works for cello (including Caprice, Nocturne, Serenade, Idylle, and Reverie), pieces piano, songs, and part-songs.
** 1929 - James Simon (1880-1944, a holocaust victim) finishes writing ‘Arios’ for solo cello in just two days. It was dedicated to cellist Eva Heinitz
** 1946 – birth of Léon Francioli (Lausanne, Switzerland) d.2016
A Swiss double bass player, cellist, and bass guitarist. He became known in Switzerland as a fine jazz player, famous in “creative jazz”, rock and classical music. He was a founding member and lead guitarist of the group ‘Les Aiglons’. He also was a Film music composer (Les petites fugues, Le Bus...), and he also worked for dance companies. In 1995, he was awarded the ‘Grand Prix of the Fondation Vaudoise pour la culture’.
** 1947 - William Pleeth (cello) and Margaret Good (piano) performed in St. Bartholomew the Great Church Summer Concert Series (London), in a programme including Rubbra - Cello Sonata, Op.60
** 1972 - Pedro Corostola/cello and Luis Rego/piano gave the premiere of Xavier Montsalvatge - Sonata Concertante (1971-72)
Church of San Román, Toledo, Spain
** 1973 - On 22nd May, 1973, Pau {Pablo} Casals (at 96 years old!) performed a concert commemorating the Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS), at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
