Historical Events of March 31
31 March
** 1691 - birth of Francesco Alborea (Naples, Italy) d.1739
cellist, Imperial chamber musician & professor {based Austria}
** 1784 - on this day the Haydn - Cello Concerto in D Major received only its second ever performance! It was announced in the Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser 30th March 1784. No longer ‘new’, the second performance was simply advertised as “Concerto Violoncello, Mr Cervetto, composed by Haydn”.
** 1867 – David Popper's Sarabande and Gavotte, Op.10, were performed as early as 31st March 1867 in Löwenberg (perhaps these were the actual premieres?). Both pieces are in the neo-baroque style. This was Popper’s first ever Gavotte, and he went on to produce at least six. The main work on this programme was Gade - Symphony No.4, Op.20
** 1890 - Richard Strauss accompanied cellist Alvin Schröder in a performance of his Cello Sonata in F Major, Op.6
(Leipzig, Germany)
** 1894 - Alexander Mackenzie, the then principal (director) of the Royal Academy of Music, spoke about Alfredo Piatti in the occasion of “Musical Events – The Joachim and Piatti Jubilee”, praising his contributions to the development of chamber music in England, on 31st March, 1894:
“Your constant co-operation in the quartet at the Popular Concerts, from the first, has been not only a fundamental source of strength to the Institution itself, but an important factor in that growing love for chamber music which has been so conspicuous a feature in our recent musical progress. The example of your faultlessly pure style and your rare artistic discretion has been of incalculable value, and we have good reason to feel proud that so illustrious a master of his instrument as yourself should have made London his home during a considerable portion of every year.”
** 1898 - cellist Elsa Ruegger performed as soloist with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, in Volkmann - Cello Concerto in A minor, Op.33. Concert in Amsterdam, conducted by Willem Mengelberg
** 1913 - the Brahms - Double Concerto for violin, cello and orchestra was performed on today’s date in Berlin by soloists Carl Fleisch & Jean Gérardy with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
** 1919 - birth of Fritz Lustig (Germany) d.2017
cellist and financial career (accountancy & credit control) {a German-Jewish emigrant to England during the Nazi era}
** 1942 – the Cello Concerto of Kōmei Abe (1911-2006) was probably premiered on this date in Tokyo. This Hiroshima-born composer and teacher was himself also a cellist. In his compositions, he demonstrated an assured command of traditional forms.
** 1943 – birth of Christopher Walken (New York)
a prolific actor, dancer – he learned to play the cello in earnest to be able to play the instrument for the 2012 film “A Late Quartet”!
** 1958 - cellist Leonard Rose performed Schumann's "Fantasiestücke", Op.73 and Debussy's "Sonata for Cello and Piano" with pianist Jack Maxin as part of a benefit concert at Juilliard Concert Hall, New York
** 1963 - in the National Gallery of Art, in Washington D.C., a recital was given by cellist Joel Krosnick, with both David Garvey and Charles Wuorinen/piano
** 1965 - first performance of Robert Linn - Dithyramb, for eight cellos
cellists: Ensemble from the American String Teachers Association, conducted by the composer /Dallas, Texas, USA)
** 1968 - first performance of Roger Sessions - 6 Pieces for cello
(New York)
** 1987 – on the 26th, 27th, 28th and 31st of this month, cellist Lorne Munroe performed as invited soloist with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Skrowakzewski), in the Avery Fisher Hall (New York)
** 1990 – cellist Yo-Yo Ma gave the premiere of Stephan Albert – Cello Concerto with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Zinman. A revised version was featured on a 1993 album, "The New York Album." According to Yo-Yo Ma, the composition was a "kind of catharsis." It incorporated struggles in his life, including his writer's blocks and the death of his father. The work is dedicated to the memory of his father. The composer credited Ma with his help completing the work.
** 1994 - birth of Thomas Batuello (The Bronx, New York, USA)
actor & cellist
** 1999 - first performance of Joshua Missal - Invocation and Dances, for Four Cellos
Group “Quatra Celli” in Los Angeles (USA), and subsequently on tour
