Aleksandr Verzhbilovich
Encyclopedia
Aleksandr Valerianovich Verzhbilovich (Александр Валерианович Вержбилович) was a Russia
n classical cellist
of Polish
descent.
His name also appears as Verzhbilovic, Verzhibilovic, Vierzbilovich, Wierzbillowicz, Wierzbiłłowicz, Wierzbilovich, Wierzbilovicz, and Wierzbilowicz. His first name is sometimes given as Anton.
and was educated there. These would explain why various references refer to him as a Polish musician. However, the preponderance of sources say he was born and died in Russia
, and was based in that country throughout his life.
Aleksandr Verzhbilovich was born in Saint Petersburg
on 8 January 1850 (ns). He was a student of Karl Davydov at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory
He was quickly recognised as an outstanding performer, and appeared in concert with names such as Anton Rubinstein
, Vasily Safonov, Alexander Siloti
, Anna Yesipova
, Felix Blumenfeld
, Sergei Rachmaninoff
, Leopold Auer
and others. He often travelled to Poland, where he was a specialist in music for cello solo, but always concluded his recitals with trios with the violinist Stanislaw Barcewicz (1858–1929) and the pianist Aleksander Michałowski.
From 1877 to 1882 he was principal cello at the Italian Opera. From 1882 to 1885 he was principal cello at the Russian Imperial Opera Orchestra. He was also a member of the Saint Petersburg String Quartet.
From 1882-85 and again 1887-1911 he was a professor at the Conservatory, where his pupils included Leopold Rostropovich (father of Mstislav Rostropovich
), Alexey Davydov (nephew of Karl Davydov), Semyon Kozolupov (teacher of Sviatoslav Knushevitsky
), Raymond Bööcke and others.
Aleksandr Verzhbilovich had a significant association and friendship with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
. When writing his Sextet in D minor, Op, 70, Souvenir de Florence
, Tchaikovsky wanted Verzhbilovich's advice on the first cello part. While in Saint Petersburg for rehearsals of The Queen of Spades
, Tchaikovsky arranged an audition of the Sextet at the Hotel Rossiya, for a small invited audience including Anatoly Lyadov, Alexander Glazunov
and Herman Laroche, the performers including Verzhbilovich. Tchaikovsky was not entirely happy with how the work was proceeding, and decided to rewrite the Scherzo and Finale.
Shortly after Tchaikovsky's death, Verzhbilovich attended his apartment, apparently in a drunken state. According to Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
's memoirs, he kissed the late composer profusely on the face, despite the cholera that had killed him. However, some doubt has been shed on the reliability of Rimsky's memory in this report.
In 1902, in St. Petersburg, he became the very first person to record any of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach
- the "Air" from the Ouverture No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068, arranged for cello and piano (the pianist's name was not recorded). He made a handful of other 78 rpm sides.
The following works were dedicated to him:
He transcribed some pieces by Tchaikovsky and others for cello, and wrote a small number of original minor works himself (Waltz, Étude, etc.).
Aleksandr Verzhbilovich died in the city of his birth on 15 March 1911 (ns), aged 61.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n classical cellist
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
of Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
descent.
His name also appears as Verzhbilovic, Verzhibilovic, Vierzbilovich, Wierzbillowicz, Wierzbiłłowicz, Wierzbilovich, Wierzbilovicz, and Wierzbilowicz. His first name is sometimes given as Anton.
Life and work
Verzhbilovich had a Polish father, spent a considerable time performing concerts in Poland during his career, and at least one major source says he was born in WarsawWarsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
and was educated there. These would explain why various references refer to him as a Polish musician. However, the preponderance of sources say he was born and died in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and was based in that country throughout his life.
Aleksandr Verzhbilovich was born in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
on 8 January 1850 (ns). He was a student of Karl Davydov at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory
Saint Petersburg Conservatory
The N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory is a music school in Saint Petersburg. In 2004, the conservatory had around 275 faculty members and 1,400 students.-History:...
He was quickly recognised as an outstanding performer, and appeared in concert with names such as Anton Rubinstein
Anton Rubinstein
Anton Grigorevich Rubinstein was a Russian-Jewish pianist, composer and conductor. As a pianist he was regarded as a rival of Franz Liszt, and he ranks amongst the great keyboard virtuosos...
, Vasily Safonov, Alexander Siloti
Alexander Siloti
Alexander Ilyich Siloti was a Russian pianist, conductor and composer. Alexander Ilyich Siloti (also Ziloti, , Aleksandr Iljič Ziloti) (9 October 1863, near Kharkiv - 8 December 1945, New York) was a Russian pianist, conductor and composer. Alexander Ilyich Siloti (also Ziloti, , Aleksandr Iljič...
, Anna Yesipova
Anna Yesipova
Anna Yesipova was a prominent Russian pianist. Her name is cited variously as Anna Esipova; Anna or Annette Essipova; Anna, Annette or Annetta Essipoff; Annette von Essipow; Anna Jessipowa.Yesipova was one of Teodor Leszetycki's most brilliant pupils...
, Felix Blumenfeld
Felix Blumenfeld
Felix Mikhailovich Blumenfeld was a Russian composer, conductor, pianist and teacher.He was born in Kovalevka, Kherson Governorate, Russian Empire , the son of Austrian Mikhail Frantsevich Blumenfeld and the Polish Marie Szymanowska, and studied composition at the St...
, Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music...
, Leopold Auer
Leopold Auer
Leopold Auer was a Hungarian violinist, teacher, conductor and composer.-Early life and career:...
and others. He often travelled to Poland, where he was a specialist in music for cello solo, but always concluded his recitals with trios with the violinist Stanislaw Barcewicz (1858–1929) and the pianist Aleksander Michałowski.
From 1877 to 1882 he was principal cello at the Italian Opera. From 1882 to 1885 he was principal cello at the Russian Imperial Opera Orchestra. He was also a member of the Saint Petersburg String Quartet.
From 1882-85 and again 1887-1911 he was a professor at the Conservatory, where his pupils included Leopold Rostropovich (father of Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich, KBE , known to close friends as Slava, was a Soviet and Russian cellist and conductor. He was married to the soprano Galina Vishnevskaya. He is widely considered to have been the greatest cellist of the second half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest of...
), Alexey Davydov (nephew of Karl Davydov), Semyon Kozolupov (teacher of Sviatoslav Knushevitsky
Sviatoslav Knushevitsky
Sviatoslav Nikolayevich Knushevitsky was a Russian classical cellist. He was particularly noted for his partnership with the violinist David Oistrakh and the pianist Lev Oborin in a renowned piano trio from 1940 until his death...
), Raymond Bööcke and others.
Aleksandr Verzhbilovich had a significant association and friendship with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
. When writing his Sextet in D minor, Op, 70, Souvenir de Florence
Souvenir de Florence
The String Sextet in D minor "Souvenir de Florence", Op. 70, is a string sextet scored for 2 violins, 2 violas, and 2 cellos composed in the European summer of 1890 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky dedicated the work to the St. Petersburg Chamber Music Society in response to his becoming an...
, Tchaikovsky wanted Verzhbilovich's advice on the first cello part. While in Saint Petersburg for rehearsals of The Queen of Spades
The Queen of Spades (opera)
The Queen of Spades, Op. 68 is an opera in 3 acts by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to a Russian libretto by the composer's brother Modest Tchaikovsky, based on a short story of the same name by Alexander Pushkin. The premiere took place in 1890 in St...
, Tchaikovsky arranged an audition of the Sextet at the Hotel Rossiya, for a small invited audience including Anatoly Lyadov, Alexander Glazunov
Alexander Glazunov
Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov was a Russian composer of the late Russian Romantic period, music teacher and conductor...
and Herman Laroche, the performers including Verzhbilovich. Tchaikovsky was not entirely happy with how the work was proceeding, and decided to rewrite the Scherzo and Finale.
Shortly after Tchaikovsky's death, Verzhbilovich attended his apartment, apparently in a drunken state. According to Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov was a Russian composer, and a member of the group of composers known as The Five.The Five, also known as The Mighty Handful or The Mighty Coterie, refers to a circle of composers who met in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in the years 1856–1870: Mily Balakirev , César...
's memoirs, he kissed the late composer profusely on the face, despite the cholera that had killed him. However, some doubt has been shed on the reliability of Rimsky's memory in this report.
In 1902, in St. Petersburg, he became the very first person to record any of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
- the "Air" from the Ouverture No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068, arranged for cello and piano (the pianist's name was not recorded). He made a handful of other 78 rpm sides.
The following works were dedicated to him:
- Alexander GlazunovAlexander GlazunovAlexander Konstantinovich Glazunov was a Russian composer of the late Russian Romantic period, music teacher and conductor...
:- Mélodie (Op. 20, No. 1) and Sérénade Espagnole (Op. 20, No. 2), for cello and piano
- Chant du Ménestrel, Op. 71, for cello and orchestra
- David PopperDavid PopperDavid Popper was a Bohemian cellist and composer.-Life:He was born in Prague, and studied music at the Prague Conservatory. He studied the cello under Julius Goltermann , and soon attracted attention...
:- Serenata Oriental, Op. 18
- Spanish Dances, Op. 54
- some works by Eduard NápravníkEduard NápravníkEduard Francevič Nápravník was a Czech conductor and composer, who settled in Russia and is best known for his leading role in Russian musical life as the principal conductor of the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg for many decades...
.
He transcribed some pieces by Tchaikovsky and others for cello, and wrote a small number of original minor works himself (Waltz, Étude, etc.).
Aleksandr Verzhbilovich died in the city of his birth on 15 March 1911 (ns), aged 61.