Historical Events of March 8
8 March
** 1813 - cellists Robert Lindley and Charles Jane Ashley performed together in a string quintet of Boccherini at a ‘Philharmonic Concert’, along with Salmon, Cudmore and Sherrington, at the Old Argyll Rooms, London (which later burned down).
** 1832 - A portrait of James Cervetto ‘aged 86’ playing the cello, dated 8th March 1832, still survives in the British Museum
** 1893 - a solo performance was given by French cellist Marguerite (Anastasie) Baude in the Salle Erard in Paris
** 1893 - cellist Jean Gerardy performed as soloist with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, in Saint-Saens - Cello Concerto No.1, Op.33. Two concerts, in Den Haag (8th March ^^) and Amsterdam (9th March), conducted by Richard Hol (^^) and Willem Kes
** 1901 - Was the following actually planned, or an incredible co-incidence?! The initial Boston performances of the Eugen d’Albert Cello concerto in C Major with Alwin Schroeder as soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra took place on the very same dates [8 and 9 March] that the work received in its first New York hearings with the dedicatee Hugo Becker as soloist at the Carnegie Hall (Philharmonic Society). Thus, BOTH Becker and Schroeder can be credited with giving the US premiere of the work!
As an encore, invited soloist Hugo Becker played J.S. Bach. the New York Times wrote:
“The only real blot on the concert was forcing of the soloist to destroy the impression he had made with a piece of by adding one of those short tunes so dear to the encore lover. It was Bach, however, to the cellist’s credit…”
** 1923 - first performance of Bax - Sonatina in D minor for cello and piano
Thelma Reiss/cello and Harriet Cohen/piano (Wigmore Hall, London)
** 1925 - the Brahms - Double Concerto for violin, cello and orchestra was performed on today’s date by soloists Paul Kochanski & Felix Salmond with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Walter
** 1930 – cellist Gregor Piatigorsky performed as soloist with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, in Haydn - Cello Concerto in D Major. Three concerts, in Den Haag (8th March), Amsterdam (9th March) and Haarlem (11th March) conducted by Willem Mengelberg
** 1932 - birth of Erling Blöndal Bengtsson (Copenhagen) d.2013
cellist, recording artist & professor
** 1932 - birth of Medea Abrahamyan (Ereván, Armenia) d.2021
cellist, specialist in contemporary works by Armenian composers, many of which have been dedicated to her. A regularly invited soloist appearing alongside the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra.
** 1940 - cellist Marcel Hubert gave a recital at New York Town Hall; the publicity leading up to the event stated that he was “one of the great ‘cellists of today”
** 1940 – about the Prokofiev Cello Concerto: Although Gregor Piatigorsky was an early champion of Prokofiev's music and a friend, Prokofiev, a Soviet citizen, could not dedicate the work to a (at that moment) 'famous' expatriate or even allow him to give the world premiere. However, in some way compensating, Piatigorsky did give the U.S. premiere on this day with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Koussevitzky.
** 1945 - birth of Christine Walevska (Los Angeles, USA)
cellist and teacher
Christine Walevska is an American classical cellist. She is known for her numerous recordings with Philips Records and performing concerts worldwide. In 1975, she became the first American concert musician to perform in Cuba under the regime of Fidel Castro.
** 1948 – on this date Paul Hindemith finished his Cello Sonata (E Major) in New Haven, U.S.A. It was soon taken on by Gregor Piatigorsky and Zara Nelsova into their cello repertoire.
** 1959 - a recital at the Philips Hall, Clonskeagh (Ireland), presented by the Instituto Italiano di Cultura, was given by Amadeo Baldovino
** 1972 - first performance of Krzysztof Penderecki - Cello Concerto No.1
(Baltimore, USA)
** 1981 - in the National Gallery of Art, in Washington D.C., a recital was given by cellist Robert Newkirk, with George Manos /piano
** 1997 - first performance of Michael Nyman - Double Concerto for Saxophone, Cello and Orchestra (written late 1996)
soloists John Harle (sax) & Julian Lloyd Webber (cello) with the Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by James Judd (Royal Festival Hall, London)
** Birthday greetings - Deryn Cullen, South-African born British based cellist, composer and recording sessions musician
