LEONARD ROSE: AMERICA'S GOLDEN AGE AND ITS FIRST CELLIST

 Sunday, June 28, 2009

3:00 to 5:00 pm

Maggiano's Little Italy

Upstairs in the Borgia Room

5333 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Washington, DC

An ICE CREAM SOCIAL will follow the presentation, and we'll have a short membership meeting.

Admission is without charge for members.  It will be possible to join or renew at the door for $10.

Maggiano's is located in the Chevy Chase Pavilion, at the Friendship Heights Metro stop.  Parking is available under the building.

Please RSVP by contacting Phyllis Gestrin, the Kindler Society's secretary, at (202) 362 2325 or phyllis.gestrin@verizon.net 

Steven Honigberg has just completed a monumental biography of Rose, his teacher and mentor for many years. He will give an extensive audio-visual presentation detailing his five years of extraordinary research for this book, which included in-depth interviews with former star students Yo-Yo Ma and Lynn Harrell, as well as Lorin Maazel, Van Cliburn, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Marta Casals Istomin, and over 50 other prominent colleagues and former students. The event also features rare films of Rose's performances. This unique experience is not to be missed.

Rose was a trailblazer, in possession of unusual attributes for a musician of the era. He launched his solo career in the early 1950's, risking the security of a Philharmonic principal's salary while supporting a young family. But he swiftly reached superstar status, as concerto soloist with orchestras around the country, with annual recital engagements and international tours - all to tremendous public and critical acclaim. He made some 60 recordings, from the period of 78's through LP's. He was the master teacher for 11 years at Curtis and 35 years at Juilliard, shepherding more than 200 cellists who are currently before the public, including some of the most important talents of the generation.

As Yo-Yo Ma told Mr. Honigberg in his interview, "He had the most beautiful form and sound I have ever heard. We stand on the shoulders of giants. He was a giant..."

Heralded as a "sterling cellist" by the Washington Post, STEVEN HONIGBERG has emerged as one of the outstanding artists of his generation.  He gave his New York debut recital in Weill Hall, and has since performed to critical acclaim throughout the U.S. in recital, chamber music and as soloist with orchestra.  A member of the National Symphony Orchestra, (for which he was hired by Rostropovich in 1984), he has been featured numerous times as soloist with that ensemble.  Mr. Honigberg is also cellist of the Washington, DC-based Potomac String Quartet.  He has recorded a considerable number of solo and chamber works. His principal teachers included Leonard Rose, Channing Robbins, and Pierre Fournier.  He holds a Master's degree from Juilliard.  As a protégé of Rose, he has written this landmark biography with the highest possible expertise, and comprehensive knowledge of the requisite technical and historical background.

We are extremely fortunate that Mr. Honigberg has completed this book, and that he will be able to share his findings with fellow Kindler Cello Society members.