Born in Oxford on January 26, 1945, Jacqueline du Pré was one of the greatest cellists of all time. The energetic four-year-old became still when she heard the sound of a cello on the radio and said, "I want to make that sound." Du Pré began her lessons from her mother, Iris du Pré and later studied with William Pleeth, who she called her "cello daddy." She later learned from the renowned and great cellists Pablo Casals in Switzerland, Paul Tortelier in Paris, and Rostropovich in Russia.
Her recording of the Edward Elgar concerto in 1961 with the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Sir John Barbirolli led her to international recognition, in which she used her first Stradivarius--the 1712 Davidoff, given to her by her godmother, Ismena Holland. She left this instrument to Yo-Yo Ma after her death.
Jacqueline du Pré met pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim in 1966 and married a year later. One often compares their fruitful relationship and collaboration in the world of music to that of Clara and Robert Schumann.
Hilary du Pré, Jacqueline's sister was a flautist who married the conductor, Christopher Finzi, and Piers du Pré, her brother became a pilot. He played the clarinet in his youth.
Tragically, the sensitivity of Jacqueline du Pré's body declined, as she was plagued with the multiple sclerosis disease until her departure at age 42 in October 19, 1987. Her beyond generous, intensely passionate, powerful, driven, heart-wrenching, yet spirit lifting expression is still alive in the music she left us. She gave her all, and those who have listened and felt it will be forever changed.
