Karl Davydov

Karl Davydov

Karl Juljewitsch Davydov (Russian: Карл Юльевич Давыдов), (15 March [O.S. 3 March] 1838 - 26 February [O.S. 14 February] 1889) was a Russian cellist of great renown during his time, and described by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky as the "tsar of cellists".

Biography

In his youth he studied mathematics at St. Petersburg University, and then pursued a career as a composer, studying with Moritz Hauptmann at the Leipzig Conservatory. He became a full-time cellist in 1850 while continuing to compose in his spare time. He later became head of the St Petersburg Conservatory. In 1870 Count Wilhorsky, a patron of the arts, presented Davydov with a Stradivarius cello constructed in 1712. This cello, now known as the Davidov Stradivarius, is currently on loan to cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

He intended to write an opera on the subject of Mazeppa. Viktor Burenin wrote a libretto for this purpose in 1880, but when Davidov proved unable to find the time to compose, Burenin offered to libretto to Tchaikovsky.

Although closely associated with Tchaikovsky, Karl Davidov was not related to the Davidov clan into which Tchaikovsky's sister Alexandra, and the composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov married. Davidov died in Moscow on February 26, 1889

Works with Opus number

• Opus 5, Cello Concerto No.1 in B minor for cello and orchestra (1859)
• Opus 6, Souvenir de Zarizino 2 salon pieces (Nocturne - Mazurka) for cello and piano
• Opus 7, Fantasie from a Russian folk song for cello and orchestra
• Opus 14, Cello Concerto No.2 in A minor (1863)(1860?)
• Opus 16, 3 Salon pieces (Mondnacht, Lied, Märchen) for cello and piano
• Opus 17, Souvenirs d'Oranienbaum (Adian - Barcarolle)
• Opus 18, Cello Concerto No.3 in D major for cello and orchestra (1868)
• Opus 20, 4 Pieces for Violoncello and Piano

• No.1, Sonntag Morgen (Sunday Morning)
• No.2, Am Springbrunnen (At the Fountain)
• No.3, An der Wiege
• No.4, Abenddämmerung

• Opus 23, Romance sans Paroles in G major
• Opus 25, Ballade for cello and orchestra or piano in G major (1875)
• Opus 30, 3 salon pieces
• Opus 31, Cello Concerto No.4 in E minor (1878)
• Opus 31, String Sextet

"Poltawa", Opera after Puschkin (1876, unfinished)

References

• "Karl Davidov". Great Cellists of the Past. Internet Cello Society. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
• "Карл Юльевич Давыдов" (in Russian). Peoples.ru. Retrieved 2007-01-17.

External links

• Free scores by Karl Davydov at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)