Boris Kamensky
Encyclopedia
Boris Sergeevich Kamensky (15 November 1870 – 21 September 1949) was a Russian violinist.
Born in Nikolaev, Ukraine
, son of a Director of a Commercial Bank, Kamensky made his first appearance in concerts at the age of nine. He was noticed as a talented violinist by Eugène Ysaÿe
and he started taking lessons with him . He went on to study at the Saint Petersburg State Conservatory (now the Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory) with Leopold Auer
, and he had ensemble classes with Anton Rubinstein
; and then he studied with Joseph Joachim
in Berlin .
Kamensky was appointed as Concertmaster
in the orchestra of the St Petersburg Imperial Russian Musical Society and he became first violin of Tzar Nicholas II . He was one of the founding members of the St Petersburg String Quartet , which was maintained by Helena Pavlovna’s grandson, Duke George Mecklenburg-Strelitz , whilst appearing as soloist at the concerts of the Russian Musical Society
in various cities in Russia
. The Quartet played old Italian instruments made by the Guarneri
family which had taken years for the Duke to find. Despite the exceptional qualities of the instruments, it took over 500 rehearsals before the artists successfully achieved exactly the right equilibrium of tone. The Quartet initially played at the Duke’s palace, where only select society was able to attend. The Duke was encouraged to let the Quartet give public concerts and as a result, it made its début in 1897 in St Petersburg . The Quartet became very famous in Russia and then started touring around Europe .
Kamensky married Maria Apakidze and they had a daughter, Irina in 1907 . He was so passionate about his violin that on the eve of the Russian Revolution, when he was forced to leave the country and faced with the choice between taking his wife or his violin, he chose his Stradivarius
. He fled to Paris and became a Professor at the Russian Conservatory (now the Rachmaninov Conservatory) and he gave private lessons (pupils included Michèle Auclair
, Hansheinz Schneeberger
and Jean Fournier). He subsequently married Ksenia Vladimirovna .
“The ensemble of the four artists is simply wonderful. It is impossible to explain in words the perfection of their masterful playing, one must hear them to understand the power and brilliance of their interpretation of the pure quartette music.
They represent one whole, one soul. It seems like one instrument in the hands of a maestro, in whose power it is to easily transmit the musical beauties, enrapturing the audience with the purity of tone, either dying away to the hardly audible pianissimo, or growing to the greatest forte.
Many years work were required to create such a perfect musical ensemble. The execution of the artists merits the highest praise, acquainting the Russian public with the works of the great composers.”
POLTAWA
“Nothing surpasses their playing as regard to the ensemble, transparency and artistic interpretation. The four artists play like one person. They master their instruments exquisitely and achieve even a still greater mastery of themselves.”
KISHINEFF
“Although their playing sounds like one great instrument, it is nevertheless not a bit mechanical, for each artist retains his own individuality.”
OREL
“The concert was of such deep interest, both on account of the serious programme and also on account of the popularity of the artists, that we can note it as one of the most important events in our musical life.”
SARATOFF
“I heard the celebrated Quartet for the first time and the impression received excelled by far my expectation. One can hardly imagine a greater harmony of interpretation. Listening to the Quartet I had the impression that I heard a small, wonderfully harmonious orchestra, an orchestra, where every musician is a great and thorough artist.
In forte, the orchestra surprises you with its strength and power and in piano it charms your ear with tenderness of tone and the finest achievement. During the whole performance here is the impression of great nobility and deep reverence for the authors.
There is not the slightest wish of any of the artists to exhibit himself, not the least striving for cheap effects.
Strange as it may seem, this is so seldom found in music.”
Born in Nikolaev, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, son of a Director of a Commercial Bank, Kamensky made his first appearance in concerts at the age of nine. He was noticed as a talented violinist by Eugène Ysaÿe
Eugène Ysaÿe
Eugène Ysaÿe was a Belgian violinist, composer and conductor born in Liège. He was regarded as "The King of the Violin", or, as Nathan Milstein put it, the "tzar"...
and he started taking lessons with him . He went on to study at the Saint Petersburg State Conservatory (now the Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory) with Leopold Auer
Leopold Auer
Leopold Auer was a Hungarian violinist, teacher, conductor and composer.-Early life and career:...
, and he had ensemble classes with 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...
; and then he studied with Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim was a Hungarian violinist, conductor, composer and teacher. A close collaborator of Johannes Brahms, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant violinists of the 19th century.-Origins:...
in Berlin .
Kamensky was appointed as Concertmaster
Concertmaster
The concertmaster/mistress is the spalla or leader, of the first violin section of an orchestra. In the UK, the term commonly used is leader...
in the orchestra of the St Petersburg Imperial Russian Musical Society and he became first violin of Tzar Nicholas II . He was one of the founding members of the St Petersburg String Quartet , which was maintained by Helena Pavlovna’s grandson, Duke George Mecklenburg-Strelitz , whilst appearing as soloist at the concerts of the Russian Musical Society
Russian Musical Society
The Russian Musical Society was an organisation founded in 1859 by the Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna and her protégé, pianist and composer Anton Rubinstein, with the intent of raising the standard of music in the country and disseminating musical education.Rubinstein and the Grand Duchess's...
in various cities 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...
. The Quartet played old Italian instruments made by the Guarneri
Guarneri
The Guarneri is the family name of a group of distinguished luthiers from Cremona in Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries, whose standing is considered comparable to those of the Amati and Stradivari families...
family which had taken years for the Duke to find. Despite the exceptional qualities of the instruments, it took over 500 rehearsals before the artists successfully achieved exactly the right equilibrium of tone. The Quartet initially played at the Duke’s palace, where only select society was able to attend. The Duke was encouraged to let the Quartet give public concerts and as a result, it made its début in 1897 in St Petersburg . The Quartet became very famous in Russia and then started touring around Europe .
Kamensky married Maria Apakidze and they had a daughter, Irina in 1907 . He was so passionate about his violin that on the eve of the Russian Revolution, when he was forced to leave the country and faced with the choice between taking his wife or his violin, he chose his Stradivarius
Stradivarius
The name Stradivarius is associated with violins built by members of the Stradivari family, particularly Antonio Stradivari. According to their reputation, the quality of their sound has defied attempts to explain or reproduce, though this belief is controversial...
. He fled to Paris and became a Professor at the Russian Conservatory (now the Rachmaninov Conservatory) and he gave private lessons (pupils included Michèle Auclair
Michèle Auclair
Michèle Auclair was a French violinist and teacher.Michèle Auclair was born into a family with sense for arts and culture...
, Hansheinz Schneeberger
Hansheinz Schneeberger
Hansheinz Schneeberger is a Swiss violinist.Born in Bern, he studied under Walter Kägi at the conservatory in Bern, as well as Carl Flesch and Boris Kamensky.He formed a string quartet and gave concerts with it and as a soloist...
and Jean Fournier). He subsequently married Ksenia Vladimirovna .
Selected performance reviews
NIZHNY NOVGOROD“The ensemble of the four artists is simply wonderful. It is impossible to explain in words the perfection of their masterful playing, one must hear them to understand the power and brilliance of their interpretation of the pure quartette music.
They represent one whole, one soul. It seems like one instrument in the hands of a maestro, in whose power it is to easily transmit the musical beauties, enrapturing the audience with the purity of tone, either dying away to the hardly audible pianissimo, or growing to the greatest forte.
Many years work were required to create such a perfect musical ensemble. The execution of the artists merits the highest praise, acquainting the Russian public with the works of the great composers.”
POLTAWA
“Nothing surpasses their playing as regard to the ensemble, transparency and artistic interpretation. The four artists play like one person. They master their instruments exquisitely and achieve even a still greater mastery of themselves.”
KISHINEFF
“Although their playing sounds like one great instrument, it is nevertheless not a bit mechanical, for each artist retains his own individuality.”
OREL
“The concert was of such deep interest, both on account of the serious programme and also on account of the popularity of the artists, that we can note it as one of the most important events in our musical life.”
SARATOFF
“I heard the celebrated Quartet for the first time and the impression received excelled by far my expectation. One can hardly imagine a greater harmony of interpretation. Listening to the Quartet I had the impression that I heard a small, wonderfully harmonious orchestra, an orchestra, where every musician is a great and thorough artist.
In forte, the orchestra surprises you with its strength and power and in piano it charms your ear with tenderness of tone and the finest achievement. During the whole performance here is the impression of great nobility and deep reverence for the authors.
There is not the slightest wish of any of the artists to exhibit himself, not the least striving for cheap effects.
Strange as it may seem, this is so seldom found in music.”
External links
- http://www.thestrad.com/nStory.asp?id=999
- http://www.concertprogrammes.org.uk/html/search/verb/GetRecord/4331