Gendron, Maurice

Performer

Maurice Gendron (26 December 1920, near 20 August 1990, Grez-sur-Loing) was a French cellist, conductor and teacher. He is widely considered one of the greatest cellists of the twentieth century.He was an Officer of the Legion of Honor and a recipient of the National Order of Merit. He was an active member of the French Resistance during World War II. He recorded most of the standard concerto repertoire with conductors such as Bernard Haitink, Raymond Leppard, and Pablo Casals (he was the only cellist to appear on a commercial recording under the baton of Casals), and with orchestras such as the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He also recorded the sonata repertoire with pianists such as Philippe Entremont and Jean Françaix. For 25 years, he was a member of a celebrated piano trio with Yehudi and Hephzibah Menuhin. He also made a famous recording (earned an Edison Award), of J. S. Bach's solo cello suites. Gendron played with many musical stars of his time, including Benjamin Britten, Dinu Lipatti and Rudolf Serkin. The 18th-century Stradivarius that he played, which has become known as the ex-Gendron cello, was subsequently on loan to German cellist Maria Kliegel.

Work

• Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007
• Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008
• Cello Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009
• Cello Suite No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010
• Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011
• Cello Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012
• Cello Concerto No. 9 in B flat major, G. 482
• Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104
• Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129
• Cello Concerto No. 2 in D major, Hob. VIIb:2
• Life is Short
• The Tale of Tsar Saltan (Opera)
• Serse, HWV 40
• Sonata for Cello and Piano No.2 in D minor, Op.117
• Cello Sonata in D minor, L. 135
• Arpeggione Sonata in A minor, D. 821
• Moto perpetuo
• Guitare, Op.45, No.2
• Pezzo capriccioso, Op. 62
• 3 Old Viennese Dances
• Spanish Dance Op.37, No.5 - Andaluza - Arr. Maurice Gendron for Cello and Piano
• Fantasy Pieces, Op. 73
• The Carnival of the Animals, R. 125
• Introduction and Polonaise brillante in C major, Op. 3
• 8 Humoresques, Op. 101
• Scenes from Childhood, Op.15
• Introduction and Variations on Dal tuo stellato from Rossini's opera Moses in Egypt, MS 23 (Arr. Maurice Gendron for Cello and Piano)
• 3 Romances, Op. 94
• Little Organ Book, BWV 599-644
• Variations on a Rococo Theme in A major, Op. 33
• Serenade, Op.54, No.2