A professional debut at age twelve in Brazil launched a century-spanning career that saw Aldo Parisot serve as the longest-tenured faculty member in the history of the Yale School of Music. Over six decades, he balanced a high-profile international solo career with the dedicated training of successive generations of professional cellists.
Early Development and Transition to the United States
Born in Natal in 1918, Parisot received his initial cello instruction from his stepfather, Tomazzo Babini. This early training emphasized the necessity of physical relaxation while playing, a concept he maintained throughout his life. After serving as principal cellist for the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra in Rio de Janeiro, he moved to the United States. He began his studies at Yale University in 1946 as a special student, where he studied music theory under Paul Hindemith.
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Parisot made his American debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at the Tanglewood Music Festival at age 26. Throughout the 1950s, he performed as a soloist with major international orchestras in cities including Amsterdam, Berlin, Chicago, London, and Vienna. He was a dedicated advocate for modern repertoire, premiering works composed specifically for him by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Camargo Guarnieri, and Quincy Porter. From 1956 to 1996, he performed using a De Munck Stradivarius instrument.
Instructional Legacy
Beyond his solo work, Parisot held teaching positions at the Juilliard School, the Peabody Conservatory, the New England Conservatory, and Mannes College of Music. In 1958, he began his long tenure at the Yale School of Music, where he later formed the Yale Cellos in 1983. This ensemble of his students achieved professional recognition, including a Grammy nomination. He conducted master classes globally, including programs in China, Israel, and Taiwan, maintaining his teaching role until his retirement in July 2018.
Fast facts
- Born: 1918, Natal, Brazil
- Died: 2018, Guilford
- Instrument: Cello
- Yale University faculty tenure: 1958–2018
- Education: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and Yale University
- Occupations: Cellist, music educator, music teacher
- Stradivarius ownership: 1956–1996
Questions readers ask
How long did Aldo Parisot teach at Yale?
He served as a professor at the Yale School of Music for sixty years, from 1958 until 2018.
Did Parisot have a formal instrument preference?
Between 1956 and 1996, he performed using the De Munck Stradivarius.
Achievements
- Instruments: cello
- Genres: classical music
