Zara Nelsova
Encyclopedia
Zara Nelsova was a prominent cellist.
She was born in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
, Canada
, to parents of Russian descent, and first performed at the age of five in Winnipeg. She moved with her family to London
, where she studied at the London Cello School with its principal, Herbert Walenn. She was heard by Sir John Barbirolli and introduced by him to Pablo Casals
, from whom she received additional lessons. In 1932 she gave a London debut recital and appeared as soloist with Sir Malcolm Sargent and the London Symphony Orchestra
. During World War II
she was principal cellist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
, and in 1942 she made her US solo debut at Town Hall in New York. From 1942-1944 she was cellist of the Conservatory String Quartet
.
In 1949 Nelsova moved to London where she introduced to Britain
new works by Samuel Barber
, Paul Hindemith
, Dmitri Shostakovich
and Ernest Bloch
, who dedicated his three suites for unaccompanied cello to her. She premiered Hugh Wood
's concerto at the 1969 Promenade concert
s. In 1955 she became an American citizen, and performed as a soloist for many major orchestras, including Boston, Winnipeg, Montreal and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. She also toured extensively, becoming in 1966 the first North American cellist to play in the Soviet Union
. From 1966 to 1973 she was married to the American pianist Grant Johannesen
, with whom she often performed and recorded. Her renditions of Bloch's Schelomo
and Barber's Cello Concerto
were both recorded with the composers conducting. She played a Stradivari cello, the "Marquis de Corberon," dated 1726. She taught at the Juilliard School
in New York City
from 1962–2002. In 1978, Gerhard Samuel composed "In Memoriam DQ" for Solo Cello (copyright 1990 MMB Music), for Zara. The first performance occurred Jan 7, 1980.
She died in New York
.
She was born in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, to parents of Russian descent, and first performed at the age of five in Winnipeg. She moved with her family to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where she studied at the London Cello School with its principal, Herbert Walenn. She was heard by Sir John Barbirolli and introduced by him to Pablo Casals
Pablo Casals
Pau Casals i Defilló , known during his professional career as Pablo Casals, was a Spanish Catalan cellist and conductor. He is generally regarded as the pre-eminent cellist of the first half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest cellists of all time...
, from whom she received additional lessons. In 1932 she gave a London debut recital and appeared as soloist with Sir Malcolm Sargent and the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she was principal cellist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:The TSO was founded in 1922 as the New Symphony Orchestra, and gave its first concert at Massey Hall in April 1923. The orchestra changed its name to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1927. The TSO...
, and in 1942 she made her US solo debut at Town Hall in New York. From 1942-1944 she was cellist of the Conservatory String Quartet
Conservatory String Quartet
The Conservatory String Quartet was a Canadian string quartet in residence at The Royal Conservatory of Music during the first half of the 20th century. The group actively performed in the Toronto area and regularly toured throughout the Province of Ontario. The quartet also notably toured to...
.
In 1949 Nelsova moved to London where she introduced to Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
new works by Samuel Barber
Samuel Barber
Samuel Osborne Barber II was an American composer of orchestral, opera, choral, and piano music. His Adagio for Strings is his most popular composition and widely considered a masterpiece of modern classical music...
, Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith was a German composer, violist, violinist, teacher, music theorist and conductor.- Biography :Born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Hindemith was taught the violin as a child...
, Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
and Ernest Bloch
Ernest Bloch
Ernest Bloch was a Swiss-born American composer.-Life:Bloch was born in Geneva and began playing the violin at age 9. He began composing soon afterwards. He studied music at the conservatory in Brussels, where his teachers included the celebrated Belgian violinist Eugène Ysaÿe...
, who dedicated his three suites for unaccompanied cello to her. She premiered Hugh Wood
Hugh Wood
Hugh Wood is a British composer.- Biography :While Wood was brought up in a musical family, it was only after graduating in History from Oxford that he decided to dedicate his energies to composition; and he moved to London in 1954 to study with William Lloyd Webber, Anthony Milner, Iain Hamilton,...
's concerto at the 1969 Promenade concert
Promenade concert
See The PromsAlthough the term Promenade Concert is normally associated today with the series of concerts founded in 1895 by Robert Newman and the conductor Henry Wood – a festival known today as the BBC Proms – the term originally referred to concerts in the pleasure gardens of London where the...
s. In 1955 she became an American citizen, and performed as a soloist for many major orchestras, including Boston, Winnipeg, Montreal and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. She also toured extensively, becoming in 1966 the first North American cellist to play in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. From 1966 to 1973 she was married to the American pianist Grant Johannesen
Grant Johannesen
Grant Johannesen was an American concert pianist.He was born in Salt Lake City and discovered at the age of five by an irate teacher who lived across the street. He imitated whatever he heard her play, and she did not appreciate it.He studied with Robert Casadesus, Roger Sessions, and Nadia...
, with whom she often performed and recorded. Her renditions of Bloch's Schelomo
Schelomo
Schelomo is a cello concerto written by Ernest Bloch, first published in 1916 and receiving its first premiere on May 3, 1917 in Carnegie Hall, New York City. This Rhapsodie hébraïque pour violoncelle et grand orchestre was completed during Bloch's "Jewish Cycle," which lasted from 1912 to 1926...
and Barber's Cello Concerto
Cello Concerto (Barber)
Samuel Barber's Cello Concerto in A minor , completed on 22 November 1945, was the second of his three concertos . Barber was commissioned to write his concerto for Raya Garbousova, an upstart Russian cellist, by Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony Orchestra...
were both recorded with the composers conducting. She played a Stradivari cello, the "Marquis de Corberon," dated 1726. She taught at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1962–2002. In 1978, Gerhard Samuel composed "In Memoriam DQ" for Solo Cello (copyright 1990 MMB Music), for Zara. The first performance occurred Jan 7, 1980.
She died in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
External links
- Canadian Encyclopedia entry
- [ allmusic.com Entry]