Gregor Piatigorsky: The Life and Career of the Virtuoso Cellist

Terry King

Jan 2014 · McFarland

About this eBook

Forced to provide for his family from the age of 8 and thrown out of his home into a bitter Moscow winter at age 12, cellist Gregor Piatigorsky began his career as an archetypal struggling artist, using secondhand and borrowed instruments. When the October Revolution forced his escape to Warsaw, he enjoyed initial success with the Warsaw Philharmonic. Relocating to Berlin a few months later, he again struggled in poverty before eventually emerging as solo cellist with the Berlin Philharmonic. Settling in the United States during World II, Piatigorsky continued a brilliant career that cemented his place as one of the twentieth century's greatest musicians. This all-embracing chronicle of Piatigorsky's tempestuous life and career finally reveals the full life story of a musical legend.

Ratings and reviews

The essential, exhaustive and authoritative account of the life and place in the artistic pantheon of Gregor Piatigorsky, a titan of classical music, researched and written by someone who knew him and his art intimately. The authority of text is supported by extensive first-person accounts, rare photographs and reproductions of fascinating and informative documents. Describes Piatigorsky's life from his childhood days in the Ukraine to his death in 1976 and, above all, his artistic legacy, including his collaborations with such gigantic figures of the music world such as Rachmaninov, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Hindemith, Walton, Heifetz, Horowitz, Rubinstein, Milstein, Furtwaengler, Koussevitzky and many, many others. One of the great stories in classical music; this eloquent biography rises to the challenge this story presents by representing it honestly, captivatingly and fully. Absolutely essential reading for anyone who considers himself/herself knowledgeable about classical music.

About the author

A Grammy-nominated cellist who studied under Piatigorsky, Terry King teaches at the Hartt School at the University of Hartford and at the Longy School of Music. He also directs Lyricafest, a summer chamber music festival for college and conservatory students.