Biography

Among the greatest cellists of his generation, Bernard Greenhouse has won a reputation both as a major interpreter on his instrument and as the inheritor of the wisdom and teaching of the Catalan master, Pablo Casals. After his acclaimed debut at Town Hall in 1946, Greenhouse traveled to Europe for an audition with Casals, who then invited him to stay on and study in Prades for two years. Later, Casals wrote, “Bernard Greenhouse is not only a remarkable cellist, but what I esteem more, a dignified artist.”

Greenhouse, who also studied at the Julliard School for four years with English cellist Felix Salmond and then continued his studies with Emmanuel Feuermann and Diran Alexanian, has had an exceptional career as a soloist and chamber musician. He has  performed in most of the major cities of Europe, Asia and America in recital, with orchestra and as the cellist of the Bach Aria Group. As the founding cellist of the Beaux Arts Trio, an unparalleled ensemble, he helped introduce the great piano trio repertoire to the world of music lovers. He performed with The Beaux Arts Trio for thirty two years, for which he was recently awarded the National Service Award by Chamber Music America. He has often been called “The cellist’s cellist,” for the sublime beauty of his tone and for his musical sensibility. 

Literally hundreds of students have profited from Bernard Greenhouse’s  profound commitment to teaching and his ability to encourage students to plumb the depths of musical expression. He has been a member of the faculties of the Manhattan School of Music, the Hart Conservatory, and the State University of New York at Stony Brook, from which he received an Honorary Doctorate. He has also taught at The Julliard, Indiana University and the New England Conservatory, from which he also received an Honorary Doctorate in 2005. He received the Distinguished Celllist Award from Indiana University and, along with Rostropovich, the Award of Distinction at the Cello Congress in Manchester England in 1996. He retired Emeritus from his position as WCSL Professor at Rutgers University in 1992. In addition, he has served as a judge of almost every major cello competition in America and Europe.

Greenhouse has been widely recorded by CBS, RCA Concert Hall, the American Recording Society and other labels. During his tenure with the Beaux Arts Trio, Philips Records recorded the Trio’s entire repertoire, several hundred CDs. Their recording of the Dvorak Dumky Trio won the Grand Prix du Disque in 1964, and their recording of all forty‐three Haydn Piano Trios remains a landmark achievement. In 1993 he was the subject of a video called “Cello Master Class with Bernard Greenhouse,”published by Crescent Software. Written work about Greenhouse includes three full‐length books, The Beaux Arts Trio: A Portrait (William Morrow, NY, 1985), by Nicholas Delbanco, Bowed  Arts: Reflections of Bernard Greenhouse on his life and music (Kronberg Academy Verlag, Kronberg, 2001) by Laurinel Owen, and The Countess of Stanlein Ex Paganini Stradivarius Cello of 1707 (Verso, London, 2001), by Nicholas Delbanco, the story of the restoration of that famous instrument Greenhouse plays.

Mr. Greenhouse now teaches Master Classes in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. He is immensely generous to his students and often invites them to come and work with him at his home on Cape Cod, when they are preparing for concerts or  competitions. Greenhouse is much sought out by the new generation of young cellists. We are all fortunate that he continues to impart his great musical gift.