Casals, Pablo

Casals, Pablo (Carlos Salvador Defilló)

 orig. Pau Casals

(born Dec. 29, 1876, Vendrell, Spain—died Oct. 22, 1973, Río Piedras, P.R.) Spanish (Catalan)-born U.S. cellist and conductor. He received early instruction from his organist father and took up the cello and composition in his teens. A romantic who eschewed the drier, literal interpretations of modernism, Casals established an innovative technique employing more flexible fingering positions and freer bowing. He performed internationally as soloist, in a trio with Alfred Cortot (1877–1962) and Jacques Thibaud (1880–1953), and from the 1920s as a conductor. Refusing to return to Spain after Francisco Franco took power, he ultimately made his home in Puerto Rico.

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Casals, Pablo 

Born Dec. 29, 1876, in Vendrell, near Barcelona; died Oct. 22, 1973, in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Spanish cellist, conductor, composer, and public figure. Pupil of J. García (cello) and T. Bretón and J. de Monasterio (composition).

Casals made his debut as a virtuoso soloist in Paris in 1899. In 1901 he began touring with great success in many countries, performing in Russia between 1905 and 1913 both as a soloist and in groups with Rachmaninoff, A. I. Siloti, and A. B. Gol’denveizer. A. K. Glazunov dedicated his Concerto-ballata to Casals.

Casals formed a celebrated trio with A. Cortot and J. Thibaud. He performed in concert for approximately 75 years, and his work spanned an entire epoch in the art of cello interpretation. His playing was profound and rich, blending emotion and reflection; a virtuoso, Casals combined brilliant technique with subtle phrasing. One of his greatest contributions was his modern interpretation of J. S. Bach. Casals’ compositions include symphonic poems, an oratorio, and chamber music for cello ensemble and for cello, violin, and piano.

Casals founded a symphony orchestra in Barcelona in 1920 and a workers’ concert association in 1924, which he headed until 1936. In 1939 he was forced to leave Spain. He settled in Prades (French Pyrenees), where he instituted a festival of chamber music in 1950 (D. F. Oistrakh and other Soviet musicians participated). Casals moved to Puerto Rico and organized the annual Casals Festival there, which has continued after his death. Casals cello competitions have been held since 1957 in various countries (the first was in Paris). Casals was an antifascist and a fighter for peace.

REFERENCE

Ginzburg, L. Pablo KazaVs, 2nd ed. Moscow, 1966.

L. S. GINZBURG