Karl Yulievich Davydov (Russian: Карл Юльевич Давыдов; 15 March [O.S. 3 March] 1838 – 26 February [O.S. 14 February] 1889) was a Russian cellist of great renown during his time, and described by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky as the "czar of cellists". He was also a composer, mainly for the cello.
Cello Concerto No. 2, Op. 14 (1863?)
1. Allegro
2. Andante (F major) - Animato - Più moto - Tempo animato - Tempo I più lento (11:26)
3. Allegro con brio (Unsettled (border of B♭ major?) transition - A major) - Più mosso (coda) (19:56)
Marina Tarasova, cello and the Davydov Symphony Orchestra conducted by Konstantin Krimetz
Before the age of twenty-five, Karl Davidov (1838-1889) was considered the greatest cellist in the German States, however he did not begin cello until the age of twelve. Davidov began his cello studies with the Dresden cellist Karl Schuberth at the University in St. Petersburg, Russia and went to Leipzig in order to pursue composition in with Moritz Hauptman.
Originally Davidov had intended to be a composer, but was discovered to be greatest virtuosic cellist since Romberg. Davidov was also a master pedagogue who held the position of cello
professor at the Leipzig and St. Petersburg Conservatoires. He spent the last two years of his life touring and writing his Violoncello Schule (1888), which would be the first method of the
Dresden School to incorporate physiology into a cello method. Davidov’s most valued student was Alfred von Glehn, who later taught the famous twentieth century cellist Gregor Piatigorsky.
Davidov worked as a pedagogue for Liszt as professor at the National Hungarian Royal Academy of Music, where he established the cello and chamber music divisions. He taught there until his
death in 1913.
In 1870 Count Wilhorsky, a patron of the arts, presented Davydov with a Stradivarius cello constructed in 1712. This cello, now known as the Davidov Stradivarius, was owned by Jacqueline du Pré until her death and is currently on loan to cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
