My cello, which was stolen 4 years ago now, has never been found, which is rather painful since I really loved that instrument. But from the practical point of view, it didn’t belong to me anymore anyway, the insurance paid me out…

You mention some names in classical music – I would rather put the attribute of “famous” instead of great, since it is also their main reason of playing: to become really famous (at least the later one).

My favourite concert? Good question, never thought of it… Where, with who, what to play? I have no idea, really, I am in general looking forward to every concert, some a bit more, some a bit less, but a favourite? I really love to play music, and I feel so incredibly lucky to make a living with it, but where and what – love the Proms in London, will go there next year again to play a piece written for me by a friend. It’s always a pleasure to play with the great orchestras with great conductors, but it’s also much more pressure… Sorry, no clear answer here, since there isn’t any.
See you hopefully end of the month, stop by to say Hi, please!

Personally, a good conductor is one that can bring out the best even from a really bad orchestra or choir. I had that experience years ago when I sang with the Nashville Symphony Chorus, Nashville/TN. We weren´t thought off much at the time, compared to the Orchestra under Conductor Kenneth Schermerhorn. Then Dr. George Mabry came. To everyone´s amazement, we were better than the orchestra in Verdi´s “Requiem”. Dr. Mabry was very clear, concise, and articulate how he wanted us to sing a particular part, and it most certainly showed. What a joyful experience to practice those six months. Some people can articulate and explain because they feel the music instinctively. Others simply don´t because they don´t feel the music although they try really hard. So, if a solo artist, conductor, orchestra puts heart and soul into it, and has that instinct, feeling: That is the greatest ever!

After having read a couple of your blogs, I cannot begin to tell you what joy, excitement, and happiness it brings to me to know how well you played in school (and how excited the teachers would get) and where you have gone from there.

School concerts in Wilmersdorf were always a whole lot more exciting and better attended when Alban played. 🙂 You would always blush at the laudatio but you deserved it. – I used to sing in the choir from 82-88. There was one concert in particular my parents and I remember well which one that was I would like to share with you at one of the concerts in the Konzerthaus in Berlin this month. My sister was almost two years old then and has heard the story a number of times, eagerly inquiring later on who Alban is, and now finally asking if we could go and visit one of your concerts. Having lived in the USA for over a decade, I happily agreed and will get tickets because I, too, would like to hear you play again after all those years.

My parents also have some sheet music (Partituren from what I understand) that they would like to donate to your and Dr. Bork´s “commitment to schools”. I never learnt to read music (even with Mr. Hinz´s help) so we would like to hand them over to you or an associate to put them to good use.

What amazes me is that you have skillfully mastered the most difficult pieces that seem an impossibility to others. What a gift!

So, with a few great names (Yo-Yo Ma, Lang Lang, etc.) out there in the classical music business, I would like to know: what would be your dream concert like? Who would you play it with? What would you play? And where?

Based on your experience with your own children: when is a good age to teach a child to play an instrument and how?

(And last but not least: What ever happened to your cello? Did you get ever it back? Was it found? We never heard the rest of the story.)

GO ALBAN GO! We love you and your family, man!

Best, Inga 🙂