"The cello is my voice, and through it I speak what words cannot express."
                                                                                                                 — Gregor Piatigorsky

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Gregor Piatigorsky (1903–1976) was one of the most charismatic cellists of the 20th century. In addition to his incomparable artistry, he left a rich legacy of transcriptions that expanded the expressive possibilities of the cello. In his youth, Piatigorsky served as concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic under conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler and later collaborated with outstanding musicians, including Jascha Heifetz, Arthur Rubinstein, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Sergei Prokofiev.

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He was a man with a keen sense of humor and the author of books such as “I and My Cello”, in which he shared his experiences and reflections on music and life.

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This concert honors him both as a performer and as a creative interpreter, presenting works he newly arranged for his instrument.

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Joseph Haydn’s Divertimento, in Piatigorsky’s arrangement, is characterized by lightness, classical elegance, and chamber music sophistication. The cello line becomes more lyrical, the harmonies softer and warmer, highlighting the performer’s virtuosity and musicality.

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Igor Stravinsky’s Pulcinella demonstrates Piatigorsky’s ability to translate orchestral colors to the cello. The Baroque humor and modern harmonic sharpness create a lively, witty, and sometimes ironic concert piece.

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After the intermission, a cycle of miniatures showcases Piatigorsky’s masterful handling of tone color, dynamics, and expression. Debussy’s Beau Soir conveys dreamy lyricism, Intermezzo reveals subtle nuances and shimmering harmonies, de Falla’s Ritual Fire Dance radiates fire and rhythmic precision, and Dinicu/Heifetz/Piatigorsky’s Hora Staccato dazzles with sparkling virtuosity and lightness — a Piatigorsky hallmark.

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This concert invites the audience to experience the world of an artist who not only played the cello but reinvented it, collaborated with the greatest musicians of his time, and left a lasting literary legacy.

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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

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HOMMAGE TO GREGOR PIATIGORSKY

Dmitrij Gornowskij, Cello
Amir Tebenikhin, Piano

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• Joseph Haydn / Gregor Piatigorsky – Divertimento for Cello and Piano [approx. 15 min]

• Igor Stravinsky / Gregor Piatigorsky – Pulcinella for Cello and Piano [approx. 20 min]

— Intermission —

• Claude Debussy / Gregor Piatigorsky – Beau Soir [approx. 5 min]

• Claude Debussy / Gregor Piatigorsky – Intermezzo [approx. 5 min]

• Manuel de Falla / Gregor Piatigorsky – Ritual Fire Dance [approx. 7 min]

• Grigoraș Dinicu / Jascha Heifetz / Gregor Piatigorsky – Hora Staccato [approx. 7 min]

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Total duration: approx. 65–70 minutes