Aleksandr Verzhbilovich

Verzhbilovich had a Polish father,[3] spent a considerable time performing concerts in Poland during his career, and at least one major source[4] says he was born in Warsaw and was educated there.

[3][5][6][7] He was quickly recognised as an outstanding performer, and appeared in concert with names such as Anton Rubinstein, Vasily Safonov, Alexander Siloti, Anna Yesipova, Felix Blumenfeld, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Hieronymus Weickmann, Leopold Auer and others.

He often travelled to Poland, where he was a specialist in music for cello solo, but always concluded his recitals with trios with the violinist Stanisław Barcewicz and the pianist Aleksander Michałowski.

When writing his Sextet in D minor, Op, 70, Souvenir de Florence, Tchaikovsky wanted Verzhbilovich's advice on the first cello part.

According to Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's memoirs, he kissed the late composer profusely on the face, despite the cholera that had killed him.