Historical Events of April 23
23 April
** 1760 - cellist James Cervetto, aged only 13 years old, participates successfully in a concert given by Mlle. Gertrud Schmeling (better known as Mme Mara, after marrying cellist Johann Bapt. Mara) at the Little Haymarket Theatre, London. The great singer was herself only 10 years old at the time! In the same event also participated a young pianist, and a young violinist.
** 1836 - on this day English cellist Robert Lindley performed, with the double bassist Howell, the sonata Op.5/6 of Corelli
** 1842 - birth of Max Kummer (Dresden, Germany) d. 1871
cellist {the youngest son of Friedrich August Kummer}
** 1860 – the first performance of Robert Schumann - Cello Concerto in A minor took place on today’s date, after years of uncertainty with the work, with the distinguished cellist Ludwig Ebert and the orchestra Großherzolighen Hofkapelle from Oldenburg, directed by its Konzertmeister Karl Franzen.
The ‘Oldenburger Zeitung’ published a complimentary anonymous review of the piece two days later, but admitting though, that the piece was not very well rehearsed; the orchestra felt it didn’t deserve the time!
** 1865 – on this date David Popper performed the Seifriz - Fantasie über Lieder des Fürsten, Op.1, with the Löwenberg Orchestra. Other featured composers were Schumann, Mozart, Reichelt, Schubert and Spontini
** 1877 - birth of Thomas Canivez (Charleroi, Belgium) d.1969
Activity as cello soloist, including presentations of unusual (then) ‘modern’ repertoire
** 1883 - cellist Marie Geist - although well establishing herself as a professional cellist by now - performed on this day as a solo pianist, performing Mendelssohn's ‘Capriccio brillant’ Op.22
** 1894 - first performance of Alexander von Zemlinsky - Cello Sonata
(Vienna)
** 1960 - birth of Xavier Gagnepain (Paris)
cellist, chamber musician & professor. Musical writer. Recordings and unusual projects.
** 1968 - first performance of Ernst Krenek - Cello Studien
(Riehen, Switzerland)
** 1981 - first performance of Arvo Pärt - Concerto for violin, cello and chamber orchestra
(London)
** 1988 – birth of Wojciech Fudala (Katowice, Poland)
Since 2014, he has been the principal cello in the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic Orchestra. From 2017, he performs in a duet with the pianist Michał Rot. Since 2018, he has taught the cello class at the Academy of Music in Łódź. A member of the Polish Cello Quartet – claimed to be the only cello quartet in Poland that regularly performs pieces originally written for this line-up.
** 1995 - first recording of Heras Comino - Yliram for cello and piano, recorded by Spanish National Radio
Ivana Radakovich/cello and Javier Rodríguez/piano (Real Conservatorio, Granada, Spain)
** 1999 - release date / premiere of “Lost & Found”; an American romantic comedy film starring David Spade and Sophie Marceau and directed by Jeff Pollack. Restaurant owner Dylan Ramsey (David Spade) is head-over-heels in love with his new neighbour, a French cellist named Lila (Sophie Marceau). In a desperate attempt to garner her affections, he kidnaps her beloved pet dog and offers to help her find him on a phantom dog hunt. A wrench is thrown in his plans, however, when the dog swallows his best friend's diamond ring, and things get worse for Dylan as Lila's ex-fiancée, Rene, arrives to win her back…
** 1999 – birth of Laufir Lín Bing Jónsdóttir (Reykjavik, Iceland)
An Icelandic singer-songwriter and record producer, playing piano, guitar, cello and violin. She is generally known as simply “Laufey”. She rose to prominence as a jazz-inspired pop artist.
