On this cello day

** 1680 - birth of Jean-Baptiste Stuck (Livorno, Italy) d.1755
Franco-Italian composer & cellist

** 1867 - on this day soloist Friedrich Grützmacher performed the Molique Cello Concerto at a London Philharmonic concert, in London

** 1869 - birth of Arthur Weiss (Hungary) d.1954
cellist, orchestra principal cello & chamber musician {based USA}

** 1877 - not always can a great cellist or composer please everyone, and especially the critics! On this date, and referring to ‘Herr Heinrich Leipold’s Concert’ (which included the original version of the Brahms Piano Trio in B Major, Op. 8), a work of David Popper received a rare scathing criticism in the publication ‘Era’ of London:
“Van Biene was received in the most flattering manner when he played a solo upon the violoncello, a larghetto by Brahms, and a mazurka by Popper. As for the latter composer, he will certainly never set the Thames on fire. His mazurka was simply rubbish, and we wonder how good artistes can waste their time in playing such stuff.”

** 1888 - the Pezzo Capriccioso of Tchaikovsky was published by Pyotr Jurgenson in 1888: the orchestral parts in January, and the arrangement for cello with piano in March. Publication of the full score was delayed because Tchaikovsky had taken the manuscript abroad with him, and only returned it to Jurgenson on 6th May 1888. The full score was printed in July the same year.

** 1899 – Alwin Schroeder performed J.S. Bach – Suite No.3 (4 movements of) in St. Louis. The St. Louis Globe reviewed:
“The four movements of Bach’s “Sonata in C Major” was given as a cello solo by Mr. Schroeder. It was played without accompaniment, but such is Mr. Schroeder’s of the instrument he convinced his hearers that he furnished his own accompaniment. …He did not make out of the Bach number a mere exercise to his own expertness in fingering and bowing; his first thought was to the master’s musical idea; and it was that impression the audience carried away in their memories."

** 1903 - the cello soloist Herbert Withers received a wonderful review from the Yorkshire Herald on 6th May, 1903 - here is what they said:
“The great attraction of the evening was the 'cello playing of Mr. Herbert Withers, who gave his services. This gentleman is still very young, but he has reached a pinnacle of fame which might well make a veteran envious. He is the solo 'cellist at the Queen's Hall concerts, London, and has already been offered the 'cello lead at the Grand Opera, Vienna, a just tribute to his undoubted genius. His playing is marked by an absolutely correct technique, wonderfully firm bowing and a magnificent tone production. In the first part of the programme last night he played Tschaikowsky's "Variations sur un Theme Rococo," and when partially through the piece he had the misfortune to break one of the strings of his very fine instrument, he was lent another by a member of the orchestra, but he was not at home with this instrument, and it was only after his own had been restored to him that he was enabled to finish his masterly performance to his own satisfaction. In the second part he played "The Lament," by Mr. Noble, and a charming little piece "Elfentanz" by Popper. So delighted were the audience with the latter that they unanimously demanded an encore, which Mr. Withers generously complied with”.

** 1923 - first performance of Hindemith - Solo Cello Sonata, Op.25/3, in Freiburg, Germany, by the cellist  Maurits Frank.

** 1954 - first performance of Ernst Krenek - Fantasy for cello and piano
(Lucerne, Switzerland)

** 1958 – Janos Starker recorded the Prokofiev – Cello Concerto Op.58 (the forerunner of the sinfonia Concertante), with the Orchestra Sinfonica della Rai di Roma conducted by Fulvio Vernizzi

** 1964 - a great fire ravaged at Chappell & Co, the music publishers, at New Bond Street, London on this day - tragically for cellists the manuscript score and orchestral parts of Sullivan Cello Concerto in D Major were lost. However, a copy of the solo part, with indications of some orchestral cues survived, as part of the Pierpont Morgan Collection; and it was later possible to “reconstruct” the work.

** 1966 – the premiere took of Paul Kont’s Cello Concerto, with cello soloist V. Orloff and the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna, conducted by M. Heider, at the Radiokulturhaus, Vienna. The 20-minute work had been written six years previously.

** 1970 - on this day cellist Paul Tortelier finished recording C.P.E. Bach - Cello Concerto in A Major and the Haydn - Cello Concerto in D Major, in Christ Church, Chelsea, London, with the London Chamber Orchestra - he was both soloist/conductor (the other recording day was the previous day)

** 1971 - on this day cellist Yo-Yo Ma first performed in the New York Carnegie Hall, in the Weill Recital Hall)

** 1974 - first performance of Peter Sculthorpe - The Song of Tailitnama for voice, six cellos and percussion
(Melbourne, Australia)

** 1975 - at the Royal Festival Hall (London) the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Andre Previn, featured cello soloist Douglas Cummings playing Arthur Bliss - Cello Concerto.

** 1996 – birth of Lydia Emily Dobson (England)
cellist, orchestral principal cello