Guilhermina Suggia

Guilhermina Suggia was a Portuguese cellist who studied in Paris with Pablo Casals and built an international reputation. She spent many years living in the United Kingdom, where she was particularly celebrated. She retired in 1939, but emerged from retirement to give concerts in Britain. Her last was in 1949, the year before her death. Suggia bequeathed her instrument to be sold to fund the Suggia Gift, an important British scholarship for young cellists. She was known for her expressive and passionate playing, as well as for her unconventional and independent lifestyle. She was a pioneer for women cellists, breaking the stereotype that the cello was a masculine instrument. She inspired many composers to write for her, such as Frank Bridge, John Foulds, and Frederick Delius. She also collaborated with famous musicians such as Jelly d'Arányi, Fanny Davies, and Edward Elgar. She was admired by many people, including the painter Augustus John, who made a famous portrait of her, and the magazine editor Edward Hudson, who was briefly engaged to her and bought her a Montagnana cello. She was also a generous patron of music and supported many causes, such as the Red Cross and the Portuguese refugees during World War II. She died of cancer in 1950, at the age of 65, in her hometown of Porto.