Juro Tkalčić

Croatian cellist and composer. Born February 13, 1877, in Zagreb, died December 15, 1957, in Zagreb. Studied in Zagreb, Vienna and Paris. He lived outside of Croatia from 1895 to 1914, first studying and playing in various chamber and other orchestras on European tours, often with his brother, pianist Ivo Tkalčić (1875-1937). From 1900 he worked in Paris, mainly as a chamber cellist, but also as a concert one, and as a professor at the Conservatory of Versailles. From 1914 to 1927 he worked in Zagreb as a soloist, chamber musician and professor of cello at the Zagreb Conservatory and the Academy of Music, where he was the first rector (1922-1923). From 1927 to 1941 he acted as a chamber musician and teacher in Belgrade, then in Dubrovnik and again in Zagreb. As a cellist, he stood out with his virtuoso technique and noble singing tone of his playing. He composed a series of salon character works for cello and piano, ten solo songs, six string quartets, a piano trio and quartet, a string quintet and the first Croatian cello concerto (1922). He was the first Croatian cellist of European significance and reputation.