Jascha Silberstein

Who was Jascha Silberstein?

Jascha Silberstein was a German-born American musician. He was for thirty years first cellist of the orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

Silberstein was born in Germany and raised in Stettin and later, Mannheim. To escape the 1943 bombing raids on Stettin, his family relocated to the maternal home in southern Germany, with his father, a physician, remaining in Stettin. Beginning studies on the piano at age 4, he made his first public appearance at 10 playing Bach's Concerto in D minor, then switched to the cello after hearing Gregor Piatigorsky play. He studied cello with Rudolf Hindemith and the legendary Czech violinist Váša Příhoda. He adopted the name Jascha Silberstein in honor of his mentor. In 1962 he accepted a teaching position at the University of Texas. He was principal cellist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for thirty years from 1966 until his retirement. In the 1960s he appeared often at Butler University's Festival of Neglected Romantic Music, playing works that had not been heard in decades, several of which he recorded.