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Gaspar CassadoSpanish cellist and composer
Date of Birth: 30.09.1897
Country: ![]() |
Content:
- Early Life and Musical Beginnings
- Flourishing Career
- Legacy and Influence
- Transcriptions and Impact
- Enduring Legacy
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Gaspar Cassadó i Coll, a Spanish (Catalan) cellist and composer, was born in Barcelona on January 31, 1897. He began his musical journey at the tender age of five, studying with his father, who was a choirmaster at the Church of Our Lady of Mercy.
At nine years old, Cassadó made a profound impression on cellist Pablo Casals during a performance. Casals promptly offered to mentor the young prodigy. With funds raised by their hometown, Cassadó and his father relocated to Paris, where he received lessons from Casals and Maurice Ravel.
Flourishing Career
From the end of World War I, Cassadó embarked on a successful concert career, touring extensively worldwide. Beyond classical and romantic repertoire, he championed the works of 20th-century composers such as Hindemith, Honegger, Martinů, Dallapiccola, and Khachaturian. His collaboration with violinist Joseph Szigeti in Brahms' Double Concerto gained immense renown.
Legacy and Influence
Cassadó spent many years in Florence, Italy, where he taught at the Accademia Chigiana from 1946. In 1958, he joined the faculty of the Cologne Hochschule für Musik. His distinguished pupils include Radu Aldulescu.
Cassadó's demise came on October 24, 1966, from a heart attack. He left behind a legacy of compositions, including three string quartets, the "Catalan Rhapsody" for symphony orchestra (1928), works for guitar, a cello trio, a cello concerto (1926), a suite for solo cello (mid-1920s), and numerous pieces for cello, both solo and with piano.
Transcriptions and Impact
Cassadó also made significant contributions through his transcriptions of works by Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Mozart, Boccherini, Schubert, Chopin, and others. His artistry and dedication continue to inspire cellists and music lovers alike.
Enduring Legacy
In 1969, the Gaspar Cassadó International Cello Competition was established in Florence to honor his memory and celebrate his enduring legacy as a virtuoso cellist and pedagogue.