FROM THE STRAD 1939 VOL 50 NO.591
Gregor Piatigorsky, the eminent Russian violoncellist, was only a boy at the time of the Revolution, but was already the irst ’cellist in the orchestra of the Imperial Opera at Moscow. A few years back,the gave an account of his escape over the frontier into Poland. Although Piatigorsky very nearly lost his life in this adventure the incident was not without its humorous side. It will be noticed that at that time Piatigorsky’s command of English was not so good as it is to-day, but we feel his original version should be spared the hand of an arranger: “When the Bolshevik revolution breaks out I am a boy; everyone is running away, so I take my ’cello and with musical companions we go to the frontier in a cow’s railway carriage. On the way we perform for Red soldiers. We have a hall, packed with soldiers, no room left. We play for them—beautiful Debussy, thing like that. At the end only two of the audience remains. I do not think they understand Debussy.”the fugitives reached a village on the Polish border, closely watched by Red Guards.
To resume in Piatigorsky’s own words: “On night we go across the border. I carry my ’cello over my shoulder. Suddenly bing-bang-bang! Two soldiers shoot at us. Mythealth remains goods, but my poor ’cello—inished.” “Did the shots hit it?”the was asked. “No, no.there is with us a lady opera songer. She is very awfully fat. As shethears the bangs she jumps up on my shoulders and putsther big arms round my neck… my ’cello is no more.”