Biography - Daniil Shafran

1923 / 1 / 13 Daniil Borisovich Shafran was born in Petrograd (Leningrad - St.Petersburg). His father, Boris Shafran, was the principle cellist of the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra. His mother was a pianist.

1929 Daniil's father began to teach him playing the cello.

1931 Began cello studies with professor Alexander Shtrimer (1888 - 1961) in a special music school for children .

1932 Accepted by the Leningrad Concervatory where he continued to study with professor Alexander Shtrimer.

Performed "Spinning song" and "Elfentanz" by Popper at a concert in the Leningrad Concervatory. This was his first public performance.

1933 Solo debut with Albert Coats conducting the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra. The program included the Rococo Variations by Tchaikovsky.

1937 Won first prize at the USSR All Union Competition. At the time, he was below the age limit but the competition committee approved his entry. He was given the Antonio Amati cello made in 1630 as a prize. He used this instrument ever since for all his career as a concert cellist.

1943 Moved to Moscow to become a soloist of Moscow's Philharmonic Society. This marked the beginning of his intensive career as a performer.

1946 / 3 / 28 Performed with Georges Enescu in Roumania. They played music by Bach, Haydn and Beethoven.

1949 Shared first prize with the Mstislav Rostropovich in the World Democratic Youth Festival, Budapest.

1950 Shared first prize with the Mstislav Rostropovich in the Hanus Vihan Memorial International Competition, Prague.

1953 Was awarded the National Prize of the USSR.

1954 Recorded the first Cello Concerto by Dmitry Kabalevsky with composer at the podium. The success lead Kabalevsky to compose the second Cello Concerto which was dedicated to him.

1957/5 Visited to the Roumania for a recital and a recorded for Electrecord.

1959 Was elected an honorary member of International Artistic Academy in Rome.

Circa 1960 Gave a concert that consisted of all six Bach Cello Suites and the complete Cello Sonatas by Beethoven with pianist Anton Ginsburg (1930 - ).

1960 Carnegie Hall solo debut playing Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations. Received positive reviews. A recital was followed with a program consisting of the "Arpeggione" Sonata by Schubert and the Cello Sonata by Shostakovich. He recorded these works at the RCA studio. They were probably were Shafran's first stereo recordings.

1962 Played the Cello Concerto by Khachaturian with the composer at the podium in the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory.

1965 / 1 / 15 Premiered the Second Cello Concerto by Dmitry Kabalevsky with the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by the composer. The Concerto was dedicated to Shafran.

1965 Visited Japan for the first time at the invitation from "Zenkoku Rouon". He played the Haydn Cello Concerto No.2 with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. Gave a recital with the program of the Cello Sonatas by Prokofiev, Shostakovich and the "Arpeggione" by Schubert.

1971 Honored as the People's Artist of the USSR.

1974 / 6 Served as the chairperson of the judge committee of the Cello section of the Tchaikovsky International Competition.

1974 Visited Japan for the second time at the invitation from the Japan-USSR society. He played the Cello Concerto No.2 by Kabalevsky with the NHK Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sojiro Imori. He played the Dvorak Cello Concerto with the Nippon Philharmonic conducted by Akeo Watanabe. Gave recital with Cello Sonata by Prokofiev, Cello Suites by Bach, etc.

1975 - 6 Transcribed the Viola Sonata by Shostakovich for cello. Premiered the work.

1976 Visited Japan for the third time at the invitation from the Nippon Denpa News co. . He played the Cello Concerto by Saint-Saens with the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Akeo Watanabe. Gave a recital with the Viola Sonata by Shostakovich (Japan premiere), Cello Sonata by Brahms, etc.

1995 / 5 Gave a recital in London's Wigmore Hall with pianist Anton Ginsburg. Program included Sonatas by Franck, Shostakovich and others.

1996 / 5 / 13 Gave a recital in Wigmore Hall with pianist Anton Ginsburg. Program included Sonatas by Brahms, Schnittke, Britten and others.

1997 /2 / 7 Passed away in Russia.

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1923 / 1 / 13	Daniil Borisovich Shafran was born in Petrograd (Leningrad - St.Petersburg). His father, Boris Shafran, was the principle cellist of the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra. His mother was a pianist.
1929	Daniil's father began to teach him playing the cello.
1931	Began cello studies with professor Alexander Shtrimer (1888 - 1961) in a special music school for children .
1932	Accepted by the Leningrad Concervatory where he continued to study with professor Alexander Shtrimer.
	Performed "Spinning song" and "Elfentanz" by Popper at a concert in the Leningrad Concervatory. This was his first public performance.
1933	Solo debut with Albert Coats conducting the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra. The program included the Rococo Variations by Tchaikovsky.
1937	Won first prize at the USSR All Union Competition. At the time, he was below the age limit but the competition committee approved his entry. He was given the Antonio Amati cello made in 1630 as a prize. He used this instrument ever since for all his career as a concert cellist.
1943	Moved to Moscow to become a soloist of Moscow's Philharmonic Society. This marked the beginning of his intensive career as a performer.
1946 / 3 / 28	Performed with Georges Enescu in Roumania. They played music by Bach, Haydn and Beethoven.
1949	Shared first prize with the Mstislav Rostropovich in the World Democratic Youth Festival, Budapest.
1950	Shared first prize with the Mstislav Rostropovich in the Hanus Vihan Memorial International Competition, Prague.
1953	Was awarded the National Prize of the USSR.
1954	Recorded the first Cello Concerto by Dmitry Kabalevsky with composer at the podium. The success lead Kabalevsky to compose the second Cello Concerto which was dedicated to him.
1957/5	Visited to the Roumania for a recital and a recorded for Electrecord.
1959	Was elected an honorary member of International Artistic Academy in Rome.
Circa 1960	Gave a concert that consisted of all six Bach Cello Suites and the complete Cello Sonatas by Beethoven with pianist Anton Ginsburg (1930 - ).
1960	Carnegie Hall solo debut playing Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations. Received positive reviews. A recital was followed with a program consisting of the "Arpeggione" Sonata by Schubert and the Cello Sonata by Shostakovich. He recorded these works at the RCA studio. They were probably were Shafran's first stereo recordings.
1962	Played the Cello Concerto by Khachaturian with the composer at the podium in the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory.
1965 / 1 / 15	Premiered the Second Cello Concerto by Dmitry Kabalevsky with the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by the composer. The Concerto was dedicated to Shafran.
1965	Visited Japan for the first time at the invitation from "Zenkoku Rouon". He played the Haydn Cello Concerto No.2 with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. Gave a recital with the program of the Cello Sonatas by Prokofiev, Shostakovich and the "Arpeggione" by Schubert.
1971	Honored as the People's Artist of the USSR.
1974 / 6	Served as the chairperson of the judge committee of the Cello section of the Tchaikovsky International Competition.
1974	Visited Japan for the second time at the invitation from the Japan-USSR society. He played the Cello Concerto No.2 by Kabalevsky with the NHK Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sojiro Imori. He played the Dvorak Cello Concerto with the Nippon Philharmonic conducted by Akeo Watanabe. Gave recital with Cello Sonata by Prokofiev, Cello Suites by Bach, etc.
1975 - 6	Transcribed the Viola Sonata by Shostakovich for cello. Premiered the work.
1976	Visited Japan for the third time at the invitation from the Nippon Denpa News co. . He played the Cello Concerto by Saint-Saens with the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Akeo Watanabe. Gave a recital with the Viola Sonata by Shostakovich (Japan premiere), Cello Sonata by Brahms, etc.
1995 / 5	Gave a recital in London's Wigmore Hall with pianist Anton Ginsburg. Program included Sonatas by Franck, Shostakovich and others.
1996 / 5 / 13	Gave a recital in Wigmore Hall with pianist Anton Ginsburg. Program included Sonatas by Brahms, Schnittke, Britten and others.
1997 /2 / 7	Passed away in Russia.