Much loved cellist dies, aged 66
RIPThe Brazilian cellist Antonio Meneses, a member of the former Beaux Arts Trio, died today of brain cancer.
He announced the diagnosis less than a month ago.
Winner of the cello section of the 1982 Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, he was sought after as a soloist by the world’s great orchestras but found greater contentment palying chamber music with musicians of his choice.
Antonio will be sorely missed.
He had such a sweet tone. Rest in peace.
In 1982, just a few months before AM won the Tchaikovsky competition, he was on the cello faculty of a summer music festival in Brasilia. As my violin teacher’s studio was just a few doors down his studio, I’d leave my lesson and stand outside his studio for as long as I could just to listen to him practice. I had never come across such wattage of joy and pursuit of beauty. Rest in peace, Antonio, you will always be a source of pride and encouragement to Brazilian musicians everywhere.
I have lost a good friend and the world a brilliant artist. He is in a better place now.
OSESP, the São Paulo Symphony, gave yesterday their usuai Saturday afternoon concert at Sala São Paulo in memoriam to Meneses.
Bráulio Lima, the most senior musician in the cello section, said a few words about him and his collaboraton with OSESP since his early days as an exceptionally gifted teen-age cellist.
Antonio was a regular partner of the orchestra, in the concert season and at the Campos do Jordão Winter Festival, every July.
I remember a concert, some years ago: after playing his solo part in front of the orchestra in the first part, he came back from the intermission among his colleagues, and played with them the rest of the programme at the back of the cello section.
Antonio will be much missed. Nelson Freire had already left us not long ago. Now Meneses. Sad times.
Antonio, we will miss you! Dramatic!
Karajan chose him for his final recording of R Strauss Don Quixote; and they did a Brahms Double
Yes. I have heard Don Quixote three times with them and the Double once with Mutter. Superb.
Mislaid my CD so bought download and listened So different from the no less fine Fournier/Karajan, but could there be a more lovely cellist/orchestra recording?
A very sad day.
RIP Antonio
The Beaux Arts Trio was arguably the greatest piano trio ever in terms of their immaculate performances, and they probably made more recordings than any other piano trio. They honored Meneses by inviting him to join them; he honoured them by his fine playing. The original members all lived into their 90s. What a tragedy that he should pass away at an age when so many musicians reach the peak of their powers. Rest in peace.
You are so right Herbie and Menahem Pressler always said that the last Beaux Arts cast with Antonio and Daniel Hope was the happiest and most musically fulfilling after the original combination of Daniel Guillet and Bernard Greenhouse. Antonio came specially to London to participate in the musical homage to Menahem at his funeral last year. Who could imagine he would join him so soon? May this great artist and human being rest in peace.
Profoundly sad…
Very sad to hear that. Great artist, always willing to take up unusual repertoire. R.I.P.