Gregor Piatigorsky

So widespread was the extent of Gregor Piatigorsky's generosity, the legendary cello virtuoso--who died at 73 in 1976--has left numerous awards, scholarships and honors with his name attached to them all over the musical countryside. The Russian-born virtuoso performed worldwide before settling in Los Angeles for the last 16 years of his life, teaching at USC beginning in 1962 until his death. Now, in 1993, yet another one has been launched.

Jacqueline Piatigorsky was born into the Rothschild banking clan and grew up in a palace in Paris, but her silver spoon came with a ball and shackles. She rarely left her sumptuous homes and was dominated by a callous nanny. She felt invisible to her parents, who expected little of their sensitive, socially awkward daughter except to marry well. "I was a disappointment," she wrote, "a shrinking, misunderstood child. " She was also intensely competitive by nature -- and driven to be more than a poor little rich girl.

I was pleased to read Laurie Winer's excellent article in Sunday's Calendar section ("At USC, Classes Beyond Canons," Oct. 11). There have been a number of articles this year in praise of the distinguished faculty that taught at the school, but so far one of the most important members has not, to my knowledge, been recognized for his singular efforts to bring so many of these artists to the school. The late Raymond Kendall was a dynamic and persuasive professor and administrator whose almost single-handed efforts brought Jascha Heifetz, Gregor Piatigorsky and William Primrose, among others, to the faculty.

I was pleased to read Laurie Winer's excellent article in Sunday's Calendar section ("At USC, Classes Beyond Canons," Oct. 11). There have been a number of articles this year in praise of the distinguished faculty that taught at the school, but so far one of the most important members has not, to my knowledge, been recognized for his singular efforts to bring so many of these artists to the school. The late Raymond Kendall was a dynamic and persuasive professor and administrator whose almost single-handed efforts brought Jascha Heifetz, Gregor Piatigorsky and William Primrose, among others, to the faculty.

For someone who claims that fear is the story of her life, Jacqueline Piatigorsky seems unintimidated by the incredibly heavy Carrara marble sculpture that needs to be moved. "Don't touch it," says the 77-year-old white-haired woman curtly as she eases her cumbersome, dusty work in progress from one platform to another. "You don't know how to handle it."

Jacqueline Piatigorsky was born into the Rothschild banking clan and grew up in a palace in Paris, but her silver spoon came with a ball and shackles. She rarely left her sumptuous homes and was dominated by a callous nanny. She felt invisible to her parents, who expected little of their sensitive, socially awkward daughter except to marry well. "I was a disappointment," she wrote, "a shrinking, misunderstood child. " She was also intensely competitive by nature -- and driven to be more than a poor little rich girl.

While one didn't necessary love Jascha Heifetz, who with cellist Gregor Piatigorsky formed the putative modern untouchables of string playing, there could be no denying Heifetz his sovereign technique, even in his last years before the public. What one heard from Piatigorsky during his last decade or so (he died in 1976) was a good deal of harsh noise and a seeming obliviousness to the niceties of intonation--which one might even call an indifference to the notes.

Sitting and chatting with cellist Peter Rejto, one sees an affable, quick-smiling, youngish man who, in his cramped Cal State Northridge studio, always seems to have some musical artifact--an instrument or a score he's rehearsing--within easy reach. Rejto, who will appear tonight at 8 in the Fine Arts Recital Hall at Orange Coast College, has been performing nationally since age 7 in solo recital, chamber ensembles and concerto appearances.

Pianist Leonard Pennario, a best-selling recording artist who made his concert debut with the Dallas Symphony at age 12 after learning Grieg's Piano Concerto in a week so he could play it from memory, has died. He was 83. Pennario died Friday at his home in La Jolla after a long illness, according to his biographer, music critic Mary Kunz Goldman. He had been battling Parkinson's disease, she said. "Playing with this musician has been one of the joys of my life," Greek conductor Dimitri Mitropoulos once said of Pennario.

Piatigorsky Appointment: Already gearing up for his 19th season as principal cellist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Ronald Leonard, 59, has been appointed to the Gregor Piatigorsky Chair in Violoncello at USC, beginning this fall.

Pianist Leonard Pennario, a best-selling recording artist who made his concert debut with the Dallas Symphony at age 12 after learning Grieg's Piano Concerto in a week so he could play it from memory, has died. He was 83. Pennario died Friday at his home in La Jolla after a long illness, according to his biographer, music critic Mary Kunz Goldman. He had been battling Parkinson's disease, she said. "Playing with this musician has been one of the joys of my life," Greek conductor Dimitri Mitropoulos once said of Pennario.

While one didn't necessary love Jascha Heifetz, who with cellist Gregor Piatigorsky formed the putative modern untouchables of string playing, there could be no denying Heifetz his sovereign technique, even in his last years before the public. What one heard from Piatigorsky during his last decade or so (he died in 1976) was a good deal of harsh noise and a seeming obliviousness to the niceties of intonation--which one might even call an indifference to the notes.

So widespread was the extent of Gregor Piatigorsky's generosity, the legendary cello virtuoso--who died at 73 in 1976--has left numerous awards, scholarships and honors with his name attached to them all over the musical countryside. The Russian-born virtuoso performed worldwide before settling in Los Angeles for the last 16 years of his life, teaching at USC beginning in 1962 until his death. Now, in 1993, yet another one has been launched.

For someone who claims that fear is the story of her life, Jacqueline Piatigorsky seems unintimidated by the incredibly heavy Carrara marble sculpture that needs to be moved. "Don't touch it," says the 77-year-old white-haired woman curtly as she eases her cumbersome, dusty work in progress from one platform to another. "You don't know how to handle it."

Sitting and chatting with cellist Peter Rejto, one sees an affable, quick-smiling, youngish man who, in his cramped Cal State Northridge studio, always seems to have some musical artifact--an instrument or a score he's rehearsing--within easy reach. Rejto, who will appear tonight at 8 in the Fine Arts Recital Hall at Orange Coast College, has been performing nationally since age 7 in solo recital, chamber ensembles and concerto appearances.

Lev Aronson, 76, a renowned cellist and teacher whose career was interrupted by internment in a series of German concentration camps during World War II. He began playing cello professionally at age 13 in Riga, Latvia, where he was raised, and studied with Gregor Piatigorsky in Berlin between the two world wars. Aronson came to the United States in 1948 and became principal cellist for the Dallas Symphony, a post he held for 20 years.

Alexander Zakin, 87, Russian-born pianist best known for his 37-year collaboration with violinist Isaac Stern. Zakin also played with other leading violinists, including David and Igor Oistrakh and Leonid Kogan, as well as with cellist Gregor Piatigorsky. Born in Siberia, he left the Soviet Union in 1921 to study and perform in Germany and came to the United States in 1940. Zakin performed at the White House under Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.