Daniil shafran tchaikovsky biography

Even from before his birth he was surrounded by music. His mother and father were music students when he was born. He recounted how, as his mother went into labour, his father was practicing passages from Haydn 's D major Concerto in preparation for a recital, and was reluctant to go to the hospital until he had mastered a difficult technical passage.

Shafran was initially taught by his father, whom he had long begged for lessons. When he was ten years old [ 1 ] other sources say eight [ 3 ] , his father took him to Alexander Shtrimer — , then professor at the Leningrad Conservatory , for lessons.

Daniil Shafran Daniil Borisovich Shafran (Russian: Даниил Борисович Шафран, January 13, – February 7, ) was a Soviet Russian cellist.

Initially this was at the Conservatory Special Music School for Children, where Shtrimer also taught, and then at the Conservatory itself where Shafran was one of ten talented children chosen to attend. Though his father took a more active interest in his progress than might be "correct in terms of pedagogical ethics", [ 1 ] he took no other teacher, commenting that "my own experiences and my association with my musician colleagues were all a 'second teacher' to me".

Shafran's first public performance was at the age of 10, at one of the Conservatory concerts, where he played two technically demanding works by David Popper : 'Spinning Song' and 'Elfentanz'. Although strictly he was below the qualifying age limit, he was allowed to enter as an unofficial contestant [ 3 ] and carried off the first prize.

His age, "filigree virtuosity and poetic appearance had caused something of a sensation" [ 4 ] and Shafran achieved national prominence. Musical activity in Leningrad was heavily impacted by the Second World War. Among many other activities in Russia, the All-Union competition was suspended for 7 years. Only in was it held again, when the war in Russia was over, and this time the winner was the young Mstislav Rostropovich.

David Oistrakh , a jury member at the competition, wrote "both cellists are complete masters of cello sound. Their light virtuosity and elegant technique should be the envy of many violinists". The following year Shafran and Rostropovich again met in competition, at the Wihan contest in Prague — an event to commemorate the centenary of the Bohemian Cellist Hanus Wihan — , himself a pupil of Karl Davydov.

Shafran performed the Rococo Variations in the final round, which by his own admission, he had not played successfully , and yet, again, Shafran and Rostropovich were the joint prize-winners.