Jascha Silberstein

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Jascha Silberstein (born 1934) is a Polish-born American musician. He was for thirty years first cellist of the orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

Silberstein was born in Poland and raised in Switzerland. Beginning studies on the piano at age 4, he made his first public appearance at 10 playing Bach's Concerto in D minor, then switched to the cello after hearing Gregor Piatigorsky play. He studied cello with Rudolf Hindemith (1900–74; the brother of Paul Hindemith) and the legendary Czech violinist Váša Příhoda. In 1962 he accepted a teaching position at the University of Texas. He was principal cellist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for thirty years from 1966 until his retirement. In the 1960s he appeared often at Butler University's Festival of Neglected Romantic Music, playing works that had not been heard in decades, several of which he recorded.

He has recorded albums for London Records and the Musical Heritage Society. A number of his live performances have been issued in a series Jascha Silberstein: Live Performances (1-5).