Best wishes, David

It was both charming and somehow gratifying to see someone at the top of his game, both a bit nervous at performing and flattered by the attention. Gratifying because it means you still love what you do, respect the work, and understand what it means to perform!

(and a blog…how 21st century.)

All best,
Michael

Dear Maddie,
thanks for writing! You are right, I felt very serious last night, I must admit, more serious than the nights before – the performance didn’t come easy to me, it was a bit of a struggle, and also I wanted to convey something else than in the nights before, and this was not an easy task either. The memorizing process was not difficult with that piece, because it is all so logical that you could almost learn it without the cello. My teachers always wanted me to play everything by heart from early on, which helped develop my memory so that now I can play the most complex modern scores by heart. This is work, but very rewarding work, since I feel I only really know a piece, when I know it by heart. Bow hold? Biggest secret, very difficult to teach or explain; one simple advice would be: lots of open strings, to work the bow without using the left hand, and trying to find the position where you feel most comfortable – I still do open strings every day before I start practising!
Best wishes,
Alban

Your-friend-who-sat-in-row-X-but-had-binoculars-to-see,
Maddie

I heard you at the dress rehearsal Thursday. Your playing was wonderful, especially the cantabile high notes in the last movement: sweetness without getting too sentimental. Dvorak concerto is always worth another hearing, it stands up well,but hearing you play it is a real treat.

As to the Beethoven – can’t resist getting in on this conversation – for Beethoven I like brisk tempos and an interpretation that leans more to the classical than the high romantic. I grew up listening to NY Phil complete recording of the Beethoven symphonies with Bernstein, the fastest tempi anyone was doing at that time. Regarding the Thursday dress rehearsal, I would like a little more Gemütlichkeit in the second movement (it just seemed a bit businesslike) and the contrast of a second movement that is decidedly slower. Just an opinion.

Hope to hear you again soon in Boston!

Bonnie

I am deeply honoured and flattered that you mention the name Pierre Fournier together with mine – I know I don’t belong there, but it is very kind to read that somebody felt a similar emotion after listening to me as he has listening to one of my heroes. What a wonderful cellist he was, so much finesse, musicality and heart. I heard him once life, but he was already very old and not well, played the Lalo and got lost a couple of times – but still his aura and his deep musicianship came through and touched everybody in the hall.
Yes, I loved the oboe playing, very inspiring, great wood wind section, I thought (especially beginnning of slow movement, have rarely heard it so beautiful!)

All best,
Alban

Hi Dave, glad you enjoyed my Dvorak, but I must admit that I disagree with you concerning the Beethoven – I loved Janowski’s interpretation very much, I didn’t feel any rush but an amazing energy and passion. I wrote in another blog that it is a very common danger to get used to a certain way pieces are being played (you may call it “tradition”), but often this traditional way is not really what the composers intended. Especially the so-called slow movement of the Pastorale is not a slow movement, it is an Andante molto mosso – which means a walking speed with a lot of movement. This does sound indeed rather busy and unusual compared to the standard performances, but I must say, for me that is the only way how I can and want to listen to that movement in particular, otherwise the whole sense behind it disappears. Beethoven is describing a little river there, and if the moving sixteenth-notes get stuck, all we hear will be nice harmonies, but it doesn’t give the impression of this gorgeous natural scene.
Also the last movement is overwritten with Allegretto, and in his original manuscript Beethoven even marked it quasi Allegro. I am really curious what the reviews will say, but for me this symphony sprang to life yesterday.
Best wishes and keep on supporting the arts in these financially tough times!
Alban