- Boris Hambourg
Boris Hambourg (OldStyleDate|8 January|1885|27 December 1884,
Voronez , southRussia -24 November 1954 ) was a Russiancellist who made his career in theUSA ,Canada ,England andEurope .Boris was the third son of Michael Hambourg [ [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0001506 Encyclopedia of Music in Canada - Hambourg Family] ] , and the younger brother of the pianist
Mark Hambourg (1879-1960) and the violinistJan Hambourg (1882-1947) [ [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0003851 Encyclopedia of Music in Canada - Jan Hambourg] ] . The three sons were encouraged in music from an early age, and were taught instruments which enabled them to play together in chamber music ensemble, as the Hambourg Trio. Boris began his studies inLondon in 1892, and after devoting some time to piano, decided to specialize in the cello. He studied at theHoch Conservatory inFrankfort-am-Main from 1898 to 1903, taking lessons fromHerbert Walenn and later fromHugo Becker .In 1903 he made a concert tour of
Australia andNew Zealand , and in 1904 he took part in the firstTchaikovsky Festival inGermany , held atPyrmont . In 1904-1905 he went toBelgium at the invitation ofEugène Ysaÿe , who further developed his musical art in interpretation and style. Boris Hambourg made his London debut in 1905, and his American debut in 1910. He was a member of the Hambourg String Quartet (the other members beingJan Hambourg , John Robinson andEric Coates [ [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0003852 Encyclopedia of Music in Canada - Boris Hambourg] ] ). He appeared as a soloist in many different places before settling inToronto , where he took part in founding the Hambourg Conservatory of Music (a private school which closed in 1951), and became its Director. He was naturalised Canadian in 1910.He continued to appear in concert with many leading orchestras in the United States and Europe, and in England appeared as soloist with the
Queen's Hall Orchestra and theLondon Symphony Orchestra .Sources
*A. Eaglefield-Hull, "Dictionary of Modern Music and Musicians" (Dent, London 1924).
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