Wallfisch, Raphael
Wallfisch, Raphael
Wallfisch, Raphael English cellist and teacher; b. London, June 15, 1953. He commenced cello playing at age 8, and later studied with Amaryllis Fleming in London (1966-69), Amadeo Baldovino in Rome (1969), Derek Simpson at the Royal Academy of Music in London (1969-72), and with Gregor Piatigorsky in Los Angeles (1972-74); won 1st prize in the Gaspar Cassadó competition in Florence in 1977. He made his formal debut as soloist in the Schumann Cello Concerto with the English Chamber Orch. in London in 1974; subsequently appeared as a soloist with major orchs. on both sides of the Atlantic, and also gave recitals and played in chamber music settings. In 1980 he became a prof, at the Guildhall School of Music in London. His repertoire includes some 60 concertos, ranging from early scores to contemporary works, as well as numerous solo and chamber music pieces.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire