Karl Davydov

Karl Davydov
Background information
Birth name Karl Yulievich Davydov
Карл Юльевич Давыдов
Born March 15 1838 [O.S. 3 March 1838]
Goldingen, Courland, Imperial Russia
Died February 26 1889 [O.S. 14 February 1889] (age 51)
Moscow, Imperial Russia
Genres Classical
Occupations Cellist, composer, conductor, pedagogue
Instruments Violoncello
Years active fl. ca. 1850–1889
Notable instruments
Violin
Antonio Stradivari 1708
Violoncello
Davydov 1712 Stradivarius

Karl Yulievich Davydov (Карл Юльевич Давыдов), (15 March [O.S. 3 March] 1838 – 26 February [O.S. 14 February] 1889) was a Russian cellist of great renown during his time, and described by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky as the "tsar of cellists". Arensky dedicated his first piano trio to Davydov's memory. He was also a composer, mainly for the cello.

Contents

Biography

In his youth he studied mathematics at St. Petersburg University, and then pursued a career as a composer, studying with Moritz Hauptmann at the Leipzig Conservatory. He became a full-time cellist in 1850 while continuing to compose in his spare time. He later became head of the St Petersburg Conservatory. He had many students, including Aleksandr Verzhbilovich.

In 1870 Count Wilhorsky, a patron of the arts, presented Davydov with a Stradivarius cello constructed in 1712. This cello, now known as the Davidov Stradivarius, was owned by Jacqueline du Pré until her death and is currently on loan to cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

He intended to write an opera on the subject of Mazeppa. Viktor Burenin wrote a libretto for this purpose in 1880, but when Davydov proved unable to find the time to compose, Burenin offered the libretto to Tchaikovsky.

Although closely associated with Tchaikovsky, Karl Davydov was not related to the Davydov clan into which Tchaikovsky's sister Alexandra married. Davydov died in Moscow on February 26, 1889

Cello Transcriptions

Davydov (also appeared in different spellings: Davidoff / Davidov) transcribed and arranged Chopin's solo piano works for violoncello and piano accompaniment. Transcription albums of Walzer and Mazurkas published by Breitkopf & Härtel. Another transcription album is a selection of Nocturnes and others solo piano works published by Edition Peters.

Works with Opus number

  • No. 1, Sonntag Morgen (Sunday Morning)
  • No. 2, Am Springbrunnen (At the Fountain)
  • No. 3, An der Wiege
  • No. 4, Abenddämmerung

"Poltawa", Opera after Pushkin (1876, unfinished)

References

External links