ZARA NELSOVA Cellist two page autographed letter signed 1959 to Peter Mennin +

Description

Rare two-page, one leaf autographed letter signed by great cellist to composer and Peabody Conservatory Director Peter Mennin, September 2, 1959.  Included is his file copy of his response to her letter, September 9, 1959. Also included is a vintage glossy 8” x 10” original press photograph of Nelsova.
5438 11th Ave.
Los Angeles, California
September 2nd, 1959
Dear Mr. Mennin,
Thank you very much for your letter of July 25th.  I arrive in New York on the evening of the 18th and am flying to Europe the 22nd.  Would it be possible for us to meet during this time? I will be staying at
c/o Mrs. Courtland Barnes                                                                                                                    140 # 38th St.
I will be very happy to discuss with you the possibility of my coming to Peabody. Would you be kind enough to drop me a line letting me know when you can be free? Looking forward very much to meeting you, and with all good wishes…..
Mennin’s response,
Dear Miss Nelsova:
I have just received your letter of September second and note that you will be in New York as of the evening of the eighteenth.  I plan to be in New York during the period of September fifteenth through the seventeenth.  At the moment, I do not plan to remain on the eighteenth.  If I am not in New York on the eighteenth, please call me in Baltimore.  On the other hand, should I remain in New York, I will call you at Mrs. Barnes.  I will be staying at the Park-Chambers or the Meurice…
Nelsova (1918-2002) was one of the great cellists of the 20th Century.  She is perhaps best remembered championing Ernest Bloch’s seminal work, “Schelomo”.  She was born in Canada and initially studied with Dezsö Mahalek.  When her family moved to London in 1929 she studied with Herbert Walenn.  Nelsova also coached with Pablo Casals, Emanuel Feuermann and Gregor Piatigorsky.  At 13 she appeared with the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Malcolm Sargent.  With her sisters, a pianist and the other a violinist formed The Canadian Trio which toured Great Britain, South Africa, Australia, the Far East and Canada.  During the War she played in the cello section of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, combining at the same time with violinist Kathleen Parlow and pianist Sir Ernest MacMillan to form a new Canadian Trio. Her performance as a member of the Toronto Symphony was so exemplary that visiting conductors took notice and her engagement calendar began to fill.  (Her work with the “big three” Casals, Feuermann and Piatigorsky began at this point.)  In 1942 she made her American debut at Town Hall in New York City.  After the War she moved to London, giving important British Premieres of works by Hindemith, Shostakovich, Samuel Barber and Ernest Bloch.  She became an American citizen in 1955.  Her performance style was considered “Russian” which gave her stage name authenticity. She is considered a legendary performer and was busy on the concert platform throughout the world her entire life.  Composers gravitated to her, Ernest Bloch appreciated her promotion of “Schelomo” wrote and dedicated three suites for unaccompanied cello to her. She gave the World Premiere of Hugh Wood’s cello concerto in 1969 at the Proms under Colin Davis and then toured the work around the world with Pierre Boulez. From 1963-1973 she was married to concert pianist Grant Johannesen and the two toured together. Peter Mennin approached her in 1959 to teach at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore.  She finally accepted his offer in 1962 for a professorship at Juilliard when he accepted the Directorship there and where she remained for the rest of her life when she was not touring.  Nelsova also taught in the Summers at the Aspen School of Music.
Interestingly in our research we learned the apartment she was staying in was the empty pied a terre of the late Katherine Courtland Barnes of Manhasset, Long Island who had passed away the prior year.
Harmonie Autographs and Music, Inc.
Music Antiquarian and Appraiser
New York, New York
All items guaranteed authentic