RUSSIAN CELLIST

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 110, 3 February 1938, Page 7

RUSSIAN CELLIST

Member Of Gifted Trio David Sissermau, the Russian ’cellist, who arrived at Wellington by the Awatea on Tuesday is a member of a family by no means unknown in New Zealand. His brothers are Zacharewitch, a brilliant violinist, who toured New Zealand 14 years ago with -Cellini (tenor) and Gregory Manoft, also a violinist (who married Miss Dorothy ■White, sister-of Clem Dawe, the comedian). Mr. Sissermau, who has been five years in Australia', was a pupil of Rudolf Erlich (who iu pre-revolution days was sciolist of the Grand Opera Orchestra at Moscow) and later of Pablo Casals. He recalled to mind the time when one of his brothers toured the whole of Russia and Poland as a 1 youthful star. It was on that tour that a great lover of music persuaded Michael Sisserntan to change his name to Zacharewitch “for business reasons,” while it was Jack Waller who induced Gregory tb' become an Ivunoff instead of a Sissermau, names which they have retained all through life.

David Sisserman made London his home after the break-up of the family, and since (ie has been in Melbourne lie has done valuable work with his quartet, helping to keep alight the pure flame of chamber music. He is now associated with Henri Penn (pianist) and Phil Cohen (violinist) in the Zigeiiner Trio, who are to make a broadcasting tom- of New Zealand, and may afterward be heard in public concert. Mr. Penn is otic of. Australia's outstanding pianists, and Mr. Cohen is a brilliant violinist.