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Maurice Eisenberg - Biography
Born Feb. 24, 1900 in Konigsberg of Polish parents, Eisenberg was brought to the United States by his family when he was two years old. After early training in Baltimore, he played in the Philadelphia Orchestra before becoming principal cellist of the New York Symphony at the age of 18. In 1921, Eisenberg had the opportunity to play for Pablo Casals, who was touring the U.S.; this meeting proved to be a turning point in Eisenberg's life because, with Casals' encouragement, he went to Europe the following year to continue his advanced training. Although he studied with Klengel, Becker, Boulanger, and Alexanian, Casals was his most important mentor, and they became lifelong friends.
Eisenberg spent the years between 1926-1939 playing and teaching in Europe. He was well known for his interpretation of the Bach Suites, but his repertoire also included much 20th century music. He was a member of the Menuhin Trio, and was the founder and artistic director of the London International Violoncello Center. Eisenberg held teaching positions at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris (where he succeeded Alexanian as professor of the Casals Class), the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Mass., and—during the last 10 years of his life—the International Summer Courses in Cascais, Portugal. His book, Cello Playing of Today, first published in 1957, is now in its fourth edition. At the time of his death in 1972, Eisenberg was Professor of the Cello at the Juilliard School of Music.
Selected Appearances as a Soloist
- BBC Orchestra, London
- Baltimore City Orchestra
- Boston Symphony Orchestra
- London Symphony Orchestra
- London Philharmonic Orchestra
- Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra
- Philadelphia Orchestra
- San Antonio Symphony Orchestra
- Seattle Symphony Orcestra
- Washington Symphony Orchestra
- U.S Representative on International Juries for Pablo Casals Cello Competition, Paris, Mexico, Israel, and Budapest
- Recitalist at international festivals and for prominent music societies, creating many important new works
- Presented Bach cycles, featuring all of Bach's cello music, and Beethoven cycles (5 Sonatas and 3 sets of Variations) in New York, London, Philadelphia, and many other cities
- Recitalist and Lecturer for the Association of American Colleges, and also at Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge, Birmingham, Nottingham, Queen's, the Royal Academy of Music in London, McGill, the Franklin Institute, and other institutions of higher education
This material may not be reproduced/republished in any format without the expressed permission of Walter Clinton Jackson Library of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Requests for information about the collections should be directed to:
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Dr. William K. Finley, Special Collections & Rare Books Division Head
(336) 334-5246. Email: wkfinley@uncg.edu
This page maintained by Carolyn
Shankle.
Updated January 8, 2003.