300-year old Cello Birthday Recital: It’s a Cellobration!

USC’s cello professor, Robert Jesselson, celebrates the 300th anniversary of the “birth” of his cello in a recital on Sunday November 20, 2016 at 3:00 in the USC School of Music Recital Hall. The cello was made by French luthier Jacques Boquay (sounds like a “bouquet” of flowers) in Paris in 1716. The recital features a piece composed in 1716, the cello’s birth year, in 1816 when the cello turned 100, in 1916 during the cello’s 200th birthday year, and will include a piece composed in 2016 for this event by USC composition faculty member Fang Man. Jesselson will talk about the history of his cello – including adventures in China in 1993, travels with the cello throughout the world, and recent renovations of the instrument by Columbia luthier Damir Horvat. The program will feature works by Beethoven, Debussy and Jacob Klein, who wrote one of the first sets of accompanied sonatas for cello in 1716. Joining Jesselson in the recital will be harpsichordist and pianist Charles Fugo (with whom Jesselson has been performing for 36 years), bassoonist Michael Harley, and mezzo-soprano Rachel Calloway. For more information:  Dr. Robert Jesselson 777-2033 or rjesselson@mozart.sc.edu