Jascha Silberstein

Jascha Silberstein (21 April 1934, Stettin, Germany, (today Szczecin, Poland) — 21 November 2008, Hot Springs, Arkansas) was a German-born American musician. He was for thirty years first cellist of the orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

Silberstein was born in Germany under the name of Hannes Bruno Willer, and raised in Stettin and later, Mannheim. To escape the 1943 bombing raids on Stettin, his family relocated to the maternal home in southern Germany, with his father, a physician, remaining in Stettin. Beginning studies on the piano at age 4, he made his first public appearance at 10 playing Bach's Concerto in D minor, then switched to the cello after hearing Gregor Piatigorsky play. He studied cello with Rudolf Hindemith (1900–74; the brother of Paul Hindemith) and the legendary Czech violinist Váša Příhoda. He adopted the name Jascha Silberstein in honor of his mentor. In 1962 he accepted a teaching position at the University of Texas. He was principal cellist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for thirty years from 1966 until his retirement. In the 1960s he appeared often at Butler University's Festival of Neglected Romantic Music, playing works that had not been heard in decades, several of which he recorded.

He recorded albums for London Records and the Musical Heritage Society. A number of his live performances have been issued in a series Jascha Silberstein: Live Performances (1-5).

Jascha Silberstein was married and has two daughters.

Silberstein's obituary was listed in the November 23, 2008 edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. It did not list a date or cause of his death at his home in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

External links

• Jascha Silberstein: Live Performances