Aldo Parisot
A cellist who shaped the sound of American classical music for generations from his Yale studio, teaching for an astonishing six decades.
1921–2018 (age 97)·Musical artist·Birthday: September 30·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Born in Brazil, Aldo Parisot’s life was a transcontinental journey of musical passion. He emerged as a formidable cello virtuoso, his playing noted for its rich, singing tone and technical command. While his concert career was significant, his true legacy was forged in the classroom. In 1958, he joined the faculty at the Yale School of Music, beginning a tenure that would become the longest in the school’s history. For sixty years, his studio was a crucible for talent, producing a who’s who of cellists who now populate the world’s great orchestras and chamber ensembles. Parisot wasn’t just a technician; he was a charismatic mentor who demanded emotional honesty and intellectual rigor, shaping the aesthetic of American cello playing itself. His influence extended beyond Yale through masterclasses worldwide and his dedication to contemporary music, commissioning and premiering works that expanded the cello repertoire.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Aldo was born in 1921, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Aldo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1921
#1 Movie
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Aldo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1921Born
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1926Started school
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1934Became a teenager
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Could drive
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1939Could vote
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Turned 21
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1951Turned 30
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 40
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 50
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 60
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 70
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 80
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2018Died at 97
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
Key Achievements
- Served as a professor at the Yale School of Music for sixty years, the longest faculty tenure in the school's history.
- Trained a vast number of prominent cellists who became leaders in major orchestras and academic institutions.
- Premiered and commissioned numerous contemporary works for the cello, significantly expanding the instrument's modern repertoire.
- Was a founding member of the Yale Quartet and performed as a soloist with major orchestras including the New York Philharmonic.
Did You Know?
He was initially taught the cello by his stepfather, an Italian cellist, using a modified violin.
Parisot's first major break came when conductor Eleazar de Carvalho invited the 12-year-old to perform with the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra.
He was an accomplished painter and held several exhibitions of his artwork.
He owned and performed on a 1730 cello made by the famed Venetian luthier Matteo Goffriller.
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