Gregor Piatigorsky
Cellist who won a Grammy for a Beethoven trio recording.
Gregor Piatigorsky was a Ukrainian-born Russian and American cellist. Born in Yekaterinoslav (now Dnipro) into a Jewish family, he first learned violin and piano from his father before being inspired to take up the cello after hearing an orchestra concert. As a child, he fashioned a makeshift cello from two sticks and performed on it, receiving his first real cello for his seventh birthday. He won a scholarship to the Moscow Conservatory, studying under Anatoliy Brandukov and others, while earning money for his family by playing in cafés, brothels, and silent movie houses. After the Russian Revolution, he played in the Lenin Quartet and became principal cellist of the Bolshoi Theater at age fifteen. Denied permission to travel abroad by Soviet authorities, he smuggled himself and his cello into Poland on a cattle train with a group of artists; his cello was damaged by border guards’ gunfire. At eighteen, he studied briefly in Berlin and Leipzig with Hugo Becker and Julius Klengel, playing in a Russian café trio where Wilhelm Furtwängler heard him and hired him as principal cellist of the Berlin Philharmonic. In 1929, he first visited the United States, performing with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. He married Jacqueline de Rothschild in 1937, and after the Nazi occupation, the family fled to the United States in 1939, settling in Elizabethtown, New York. From 1941 to 1949, he headed the cello department at the Curtis Institute, later teaching at the University of Southern California until his death. He performed in a celebrated chamber group with Arthur Rubinstein, William Primrose, and Jascha Heifetz, and many composers wrote works for him, including Prokofiev, Hindemith, Walton, and Stravinsky. He died of lung cancer in Los Angeles in 1976.
- field
- Cello performance
Lore & Background
Gregor Piatigorsky was a Ukrainian-born cellist who later became a Russian and American citizen. He was distinguished by a powerful, resonant tone and a commanding stage presence, qualities that led the violinist Ivan Galamian to call him the greatest string player of all time. Piatigorsky’s appearance was that of a robust, energetic performer, and his career was marked by collaborations with many leading composers of his era, who wrote concertos specifically for him, including Prokofiev, Hindemith, Walton, and Stravinsky. He was also a member of a celebrated chamber group with pianist Arthur Rubinstein and violinist Jascha Heifetz. His range as a musician extended from orchestral playing—he was principal cellist of the Bolshoi Theater at age fifteen and later of the Berlin Philharmonic—to solo and chamber music performance. Piatigorsky’s habitat shifted from his birthplace in Yekaterinoslav (now Dnipro, Ukraine) to Berlin and Leipzig for study, then to France, and finally to the United States, where he settled in Los Angeles. He taught at the Curtis Institute of Music, Tanglewood, Boston University, and the University of Southern California, where a chair was established in his honor. A defining characteristic was his deep connection to his instrument; he owned several Stradivarius cellos, including the “Batta,” which he described as having limitless resources that inspired him to work harder than ever to fully realize its capabilities.
Reader's Guide
Piatigorsky’s career was defined by his escape from Soviet restrictions, his collaborations with leading composers, and his influence as a pedagogue. After smuggling himself into Poland as a teenager, he studied in Berlin and Leipzig before being hired as principal cellist of the Berlin Philharmonic by Wilhelm Furtwängler. He later settled in the United States, where he led the cello department at the Curtis Institute and taught at the University of Southern California. Many major composers wrote works specifically for him, including Sergei Prokofiev, Paul Hindemith, William Walton, and Igor Stravinsky, with whom he arranged the “Suite Italienne.” He also performed chamber music privately with figures such as Vladimir Horowitz and Nathan Milstein, and formed a celebrated trio with Arthur Rubinstein and Jascha Heifetz. His autobiography, *Cellist*, was published in 1965. Piatigorsky owned several Stradivarius cellos, including the “Batta,” which he described as having limitless resources that challenged him to reach its depths. Violin pedagogue Ivan Galamian reportedly called him the greatest string player of all time. He died of lung cancer in Los Angeles in 1976.
Did You Know?
- Gregor Piatigorsky won a Grammy for Best Chamber Music Performance - Instrumental at the 7th Annual Grammy Awards.
- The winning recording was Beethoven: Trio No. 1 in E Flat, Op.1 #1, performed with Jascha Heifetz and Jacob Lateiner.
- The 7th Annual Grammy Awards were held on April 13, 1965, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
- The awards recognized accomplishments of musicians for the year 1964.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gregor Piatigorsky?
He was a Ukrainian-born cellist (1903–1976) who became one of the 20th century's most celebrated string virtuosos, performing and teaching across Europe and the United States. After fleeing Soviet Russia as a teenager, he built an international career that included serving as principal cellist of the Berlin Philharmonic.
What was the 'Million Dollar Trio' that Piatigorsky joined?
It was a legendary piano trio pairing Piatigorsky's cello with pianist Arthur Rubinstein and violinist Jascha Heifetz. The group performed together in the 1930s and became famous both for its extraordinary musicianship and the enormous fees it commanded.
How did Piatigorsky escape the Soviet Union?
As a young teenager in the wake of the Russian Revolution, he managed to leave the country and make his way to Western Europe. That early flight set the stage for his subsequent career in Berlin, Paris, and eventually the United States.
Which cello concertos did Piatigorsky commission and premiere?
He worked directly with several major 20th-century composers, premiering new cello concertos by Sergei Prokofiev, Paul Hindemith, and William Walton. His advocacy for new repertoire helped expand the cello's role in contemporary concert life.
Why is Piatigorsky considered important in cello history?
Beyond his dazzling technical command, he bridged the Romantic tradition with modern composition, mentored a generation of younger cellists, and authored books on music and performance. His career arc—from revolutionary-era refugee to global star and educator—made him a defining figure in the instrument's 20th-century story.
More in Classical Composers And Instrumentalists 1-24
Related in Classical Composers And Instrumentalists
Links follow this subject's own source article.
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record