Description

ALEXANDER VALERIANOVICH WIERZBILOWICZ (SAINT PETERSBURG, 8 JANUARY, 1850 [O.S. 27 DECEMBER 1849] – SAINT PETERSBURG, 15 MARCH [O.S. 2 MARCH], 1911)

Alexander Wierzbilowicz was born in Saint Petersburg on 8 January 1850. 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, Hieronymus Weickmann, 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 Stanisław Barcewicz 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. Alexander Wierzbilowicz 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, Wierzbilowicz 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.

TRACKLIST

1. Alexander Wierzbilowicz Bach’s Aria G&T 27880 199z
2. Alexander Wierzbilowicz Doubt (Be still, my fears) (Glinka) G&T 27887 7955L
3. Alexander Wierzbilowicz Morning Serenade (Hubert) G&T 27888
4. Alexander Wierzbilowicz Romance without words (Davydov) G&T 27886 201z
5. Alexander Wierzbilowicz Solo from the ballet Fiametta (Chanson à boire) (Minkus) G&T 27884 7953L

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1. Alexander Barjansky Concerto for violoncello in G Minor (Handel) Grave and Sarabande – Largo Parlophone E 10407, E 10407, 2-8140, 2-8141
2. George Rogovoy Chanson à boire from Fiametta (arr Gdal Selesski) (Minkus) Rex 5061
3. George Rogovoy Chanson Triste (Sad Song) Rex 5132-A
4. Vladimir Dubinsky As once in happier days (Popper) Edison 80718 5417
5. Vladimir Dubinsky Chant du menestrel (Glazunov) Edison 80704 5788
6. Vladimir Dubinsky Nocturne, Op. 19, No. 4 Edison 80516 5768
7. Vladimir Dubinsky Romance sans paroles (Davydov) Edison 3628