Terence Weil
Terence Weil | |
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Born | Figueras, Spain | 9 December 1921
Education | Royal Academy of Music |
Occupation | Classical cellist |
Organizations |
Terence Weil (9 December 1921 in
Career
Together with clarinettist Gervase de Peyer and violist Cecil Aronowitz, he helped found the Melos Ensemble in 1950.[2] He was its principal cellist for decades, and Aronowitz its principal violist. Bassoonist William Waterhouse wrote in 1995: "It was the remarkable rapport between this pair of lower strings, which remained constant throughout a succession of distinguished leaders, that gave a special distinction to this outstanding ensemble."[1]
His close association with Benjamin Britten began in 1946, when he played in the premiere of his opera The Rape of Lucretia in the first postwar season of the Glyndebourne Festival. He took part in each of the early Aldeburgh Festivals, including in the premieres of Britten's operas Albert Herring and Noye's Fludde. The composer conducted the Melos Ensemble in the first performance of his War Requiem in Coventry in 1962, and also in the first recording of it in 1963.
Weil premiered the Suite for viola and cello by Arthur Butterworth with Cecil Aronowitz in 1951.[3]
In the 1960s, he was cellist of the Cremona Quartet under leader Hugh Maguire, with Iona Brown as second violinist and Aronowitz as violist.[4] In the Pro Arte Piano Quartet he played with Kenneth Sillito (violin), Aronowitz and Lamar Crowson (piano).
In 1974, he became the first Professor of Chamber Music at the newly opened Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Among the student groups he coached was the Brodsky Quartet. The institute regularly awards a Terence Weil prize to the best chamber music ensemble.[5]
He retired to Cadaqués, Spain in 1985, where he died ten years later, aged 74.[6]
Recordings
His long discography includes many notable
Instruments
Terence Weil played an Amati[1] and later a cello built by Domenico Montagnana that had belonged to Pablo Casals before.
References
- ^ a b c William Waterhouse (9 March 1995). "Obituary: Terence Weil". The Independent.
- ^ Biography Chadbourne
- ^ Works by Butterworth
- ^ Obituary Iona Brown The Guardian, Anne Inglis, 10 June 2004
- ^ Terence Weil Memorial Competitions
- ^ 'Cellist's child Patrick sought', in The Western Evening Herald, 3 March 1995, p. 12
- ^ Melos Ensemble – Music among Friends EMI
- ^ Purcell
- ^ Legendary British Performers