Gregor Piatigorsky: The Life and Career of the Virtuoso Cellist

Forced to provide for his family from the age of 8 and thrown out of his home into a bitter Moscow winter at age 12, cellist Gregor Piatigorsky began his career as an archetypal struggling artist, using secondhand and borrowed instruments. When the October Revolution forced his escape to Warsaw, he enjoyed initial success with the Warsaw Philharmonic. Relocating to Berlin a few months later, he again struggled in poverty before eventually emerging as solo cellist with the Berlin Philharmonic. Settling in the United States during World II, Piatigorsky continued a brilliant career that cemented his place as one of the twentieth century’s greatest musicians. This all-embracing chronicle of Piatigorsky’s tempestuous life and career finally reveals the full life story of a musical legend.

A Grammy-nominated cellist who studied under Piatigorsky, Terry King teaches at the Hartt School at the University of Hartford and at the Longy School of Music. He also directs Lyricafest, a summer chamber music festival for college and conservatory students.