conducting Archives

A Profile of Robert LaMarchina (January, 2004)

by Tim Janof Though relatively few may know of him today, Robert LaMarchina was one of the most brilliant cellists of the 20th Century. A child prodigy, he was the toast of the music world and was showered with praise from some of the most celebrated musicians of his time. Gaspar Cassadó said that LaMarchina was "the most outstanding talent I have seen." Maurice Maréchal said "There is no doubt of it, the boy is unusually gifted." Toscanini referred to him as "my little angel." Had he not gone into conducting and had some self-sabotaging tendencies from a career standpoint, there is little doubt that he would have been a household name for cellists around the world. LaMarchina was born in New York City on September 3, 1928. His parents [...]

By Tim Janof|2024-07-05T20:18:47-04:00February 14th, 2022|Categories: Artists, Internet Cello Society Archive|Tags: Life Story, Profile, Internet Cello Society Archive, child prodigy, conducting, ICS, Gaspar Cassadó, Robert LaMarchina, Toscanini|

Conversation with Frances Walton (June, 1999)

Interview by Tim Janof Sitting third chair in Philharmonia Northwest, one of the best community orchestras in the Seattle area, is 71 year old cellist Frances Walton, one of the most radiant musical souls I have ever met. "I'm 71 and I love it. As long as I can move without arthritis, the world is good." One wouldn't necessarily expect to find such a powerful musical force in a place like Shorecrest High School auditorium, the orchestra's concert venue, but there she enthusiastically plays. As I watch her, I can't help but wonder if anybody realizes just what she has done for classical music -- formed and conducted two orchestras, conducted a third, founded a music camp, co-founded a music library, formed a statewide concert tour, and inspired countless musicians [...]

By Tim Janof|2020-10-21T18:21:16-04:00October 14th, 2020|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Interviews, Orchestra, Performance, Self Discovery|Tags: conducting, artistic vision, inspiration, orchestra, orchestra playing, Tanglewood|

The Britten Cello Suites (Part 5): An Interview with Steven Isserlis — by Aron Zelkowicz

Your 1992 recording of Britten's Third Suite is widely known, due to its pairing with John Tavener's "The Protecting Veil" (which has been called a "cult" recording). Do you have any approximate idea of how many copies that album has sold? I don't know—quite a few, anyway. I wonder how many people have listened to the Britten, though! There's another connection: the very first time I went to see John Tavener with my cello, I played him the passage in the coda of the Britten where the cello breaks into a chordal version of the chant for the dead—like a Russian Orthodox choir. I remember him saying how wonderful that music sounded on the cello. Much later, John heard me play the whole suite, and—rather to my surprise, because it [...]

By Aron Zelkowicz|2021-06-28T04:45:37-04:00December 8th, 2013|Categories: Artistic Vision, Interviews, Performance, Repertoire|Tags: interview, Tavener, Britten Cello Symphony, Shostakovich, chant, recording, conducting, Rostropovich, Introduzione, Aron, Isserlis, Zelkowicz, manuscript, Sonata, improvisation, multiple versions, cello, Britten, premiere, cellobello, Britten Cello Suites, Russian Orthodox Liturgy, performance, third suite, Steven|