Comments on: Facial Expressions during the Dvorak Concerto in Canada

By: Thomas Walter

Thomas Walter — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:04:04 +0000

yes facial expression is important; i heard your brahms double concerto at the schumann festival this year, but unfortunaly i had a bad seet, so i could only see your cello. I had never thought that a performance looses so much of its spirit when you can’t see the performer…

By: Rachel Prichard

Rachel Prichard — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:48:38 +0000

Yes Alban – your appearance on stage, including your facial expressions, are very important to an audience. (The word â€œaudienceâ€ is not enough to include all the senses the public uses when at a live performance.) While slightly to the side and so not able to see you face on – you certainly have a very pleasing demeanour and one can appreciate the music much better through your visual performance as compared with listening to a CD. (Why go to a live concert otherwise?) We thought your interpretation was intelligent, musical and memorable.
I will never forget the amazing experience of watching Tortellier play once in England with his daughter, Maria de la Pau. The whole experience was electrifying. On the other hand my husband and I also saw that amazingly gifted celllist, Jacqueline DuprÃ©, playing when she was alive. Those people who have seen her will probably all agree that her bodily gymnastics detracted so much from the music that we needed to close our eyes to appreciate her playing better. Peter Cropper, the lead violin of the former Lindsay String Quartet also fell into this category, unfortunately and one or two others come to mind. I am grateful that this scenario is very unusual.
Anyway Alban – we thank you for your excellence and look forward to seeing you play again many times. It was our first visit to the KWS as we were visiting from out of town and we look forward so much to more concerts there both with and without you.

By: Erin Gray

Erin Gray — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:35:59 +0000

As an audience member…way at the back…(which really isn’t that far at the Centre in the Square) I have to say, I enjoyed not only the facial expressions, but the body language and of course, your amazing performance. I agree with Larry, we hope to see you back soon.

Cheers!

By: Larry Larson

Larry Larson — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:35:43 +0000

Well, as Principal Trumpet of the KWSymphony, I especially enjoyed watching your facial expressions as you sat in with our cello section after the Interval to perform “Pictures At An Exhibition” with us. The constant smile on your face was very inspiring to me and many of my colleagues in the KWS. I understand it was your first “Pictures” ever, and I’m thrilled that you had that opportunity with us.

Your Dvorak performances were wonderful, as well as your treat to us of the Bach and Ligeti encores!
All the very best, Alban. We hope to see you back in KW sometime in the near future.

Cheers!
Larry