Jacqueline du Pré Archives

Cello Concerto Overview: The Should Haves (Part I)

Reprinted with permission from Interlude. Concert Favorites: Cello Concertos That You Should Learn Wilhelm Fitzenhagen My teacher János Starker used to say that cellist soloists have to be ready to play a greater number of concertos than our more brilliant sister, the violinist, who can play an entire season with four or perhaps five concerti under their fingers—think Brahms, Mendelsohn, Barber, and Sibelius; or Bruch, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Bartók. Likewise, audience members are thrilled to hear a pianist perform the masterworks of Rachmaninoff, Mendelssohn, Mozart, and either of the Prokofiev’s; or, Grieg, Schumann, Shostakovich, Bartók and either of the Ravels. Cellists, though, have the disadvantage of fewer pieces written for their instrument and not all of them are considered the quality of the concertos named above. Some are neglected or obscure [...]

By Janet Horvath|2022-10-03T11:23:47-04:00April 10th, 2022|Categories: Artistic Vision, Performance, Repertoire|Tags: Elgar Concerto, Mischa Maisky, Standard Repertoire, Cello Repertoire, Gregor Piatigorsky, Janet Horvath, Cello Concertos, Kian Soltani, Elgar, Jian Wang, Dvorak, Walton, Jacqueline du Pré, Walton Concerto, Dvorak Concerto|

Conversation with Ofra Harnoy (December, 1996)

Born in Israel, Ofra Harnoy studied with her father, Vladimir Orloff, and William Pleeth. After her family moved to Canada, her debut as soloist with orchestra at age 10 was followed immediately by solo engagements with the Toronto and Montreal Symphony Orchestras. Winning the 1982 International Concert Artists Guild award (the youngest ever) led to her concerto and recital debuts in Carnegie Hall, which won both public and critical acclaim; in 1983 she was named Young Musician of the Year by "Musical America" magazine. She has appeared as soloist with major orchestras on five continents, and has been featured in hundreds of televised solo concerts in Canada, Japan, Australia, England, and throughout Europe. Twice she has played before H.R.H. Prince Charles by invitation, and several times before members of Japan's [...]

By Tim Janof|2021-07-05T18:34:19-04:00June 28th, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Interviews, Performance, Repertoire|Tags: Ofra Harnoy, Practice, Vladimir Orloff, performance, repertoire, Technique, Pierre Fournier, Jacqueline du Pré|

Conversation with Steven Isserlis (April, 2004)

Steven Isserlis is a remarkable cellist whose commitment to and obvious pleasure in music making is an inspiration to audiences and fellow-musicians. His artistic profile is characterised by a uniquely beautiful sound, a diverse choice of repertoire, a passion for finding neglected works and, above all, empathy with the music he plays. Steeped in music from birth - his grandfather was the Russian pianist and composer Julius Isserlis, while older branches of his family tree have a direct line to Felix Mendelssohn -- Steven Isserlis has communicated through music from an early age. As Artistic Director of IMS Prussia Cove in Cornwall -- a role he inherited from founder Sandor Vegh -- this energy and passion for communicating and educating is evident in the annual master classes and chamber music [...]

By Tim Janof|2022-10-22T12:47:27-04:00January 11th, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Interviews, Performance, Repertoire|Tags: Interpretation, shifting, Janos Starker, Technique, improvisation, Jacqueline du Pré|

Conversation with Karine Georgian (November, 2004)

Interview by Tim Janof Born into a family of musicians in Moscow, Karine Georgian began her cello studies at the age of five under her father, later studying at the Moscow Conservatoire under Rostropovich. After taking the First Prize and Gold Medal at the Third Tchaikovsky International Competition, she launched an international career that has spanned all the countries of the former Soviet Union, Eastern and Western Europe, the Far East, and the United States, starting with the American premiere of Khachaturian's Cello Rhapsody with the Chicago Symphony conducted by the composer (her recording with the composer and the Moscow Bolshoi Radio Symphony Orchestra has recently been reissued by Melodiya/BMG Classics). Today, Karine Georgian is a seasoned performer with a vast experience on concert platforms across the world, having appeared [...]

By Tim Janof|2020-12-02T22:43:14-05:00November 25th, 2020|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Competition, Interviews, Performance|Tags: competitions, Mstislav Rostropovich, Jacqueline du Pré, Thomas Hemsley, career, Glenn Gould, performance|

Conversation with Robert Cohen (December, 2000)

Interview by Tim Janof British cellist Robert Cohen is firmly established as one of the world's leading soloists. His career takes him on major tours of the USA, Europe, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the UK, performing with conductors such as Abbado, Jansons, Marriner, Masur, Muti, Rattle, and Sinopoli. Cohen made his concert debut at London's Royal Festival Hall playing a Boccherini concerto at the age of 12. His prodigy was nurtured by the great pedagogue William Pleeth. He also took part in classes with Jacqueline du Pré, André Navarra, and Mstislav Rostropovich. At the age of 19, after winning several major international competitions, he made his recording debut -- Elgar's cello concerto with Del Mar and the London Philharmonic -- which received several awards and has [...]

By Tim Janof|2020-10-01T00:39:46-04:00September 24th, 2020|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Performance, Playing Healthy, Self Discovery|Tags: bow technique, Mstislav Rostropovich, Jacqueline du Pré, William Pleeth, Andre Navarra, Daniel Barenboim, David Oistrakh, Technique|

Objects — by Arnold Steinhardt

Last summer I was once again a participant in the Marlboro Music Festival. As always, the school generously provided my wife, Dorothea, and me with a house off campus. This time we were given the former home of David Soyer, the cellist of our Guarneri String Quartet for thirty-seven of its forty-five-year existence. Dave passed away in 2010, his wife, Janet, in 2011. I knew Dave and Janet’s house rather well, a charming, rustic old place set in the woods, and I looked forward to staying in it. When people asked me whether I wouldn’t feel funny living in their house now that they were gone, I laughed and said no at first without really thinking much about it. But then I began to wonder whether Dave and Janet would [...]

By Arnold Steinhardt|2018-03-18T18:30:07-04:00March 4th, 2014|Categories: Interpersonal Relationships|Tags: Marlboro Music Festival, David Soyer, memory-inducing objects, Arnold, musical world, career, Guarneri String Quartet, obituary, cello, Steinhardt, Peter Wiley, cellobello, beauty of phrasing, remembrance, students, In the Key of Strawberry, Spoleto, teacher, incisiveness, string quartet, intelligence, Italy, posters, Jacqueline du Pré, memories|