sorry for answering so late – no, I haven’t played the Kraft Concerto, but I heard it once on cd and liked it very much, andyes, sounded as if he had to something with the writing (or at least co-writing) of the Haydn C Major…
To tell you the truth, I am not great in filling in the harmonies of pieces which I know real well – I could sing them, but I am not really a great improviser, don’t have perfect pitch to actually do the accompaniment on the cello without any music (or at least Ihaven’t really tried – maybe with the Haydn, in slow motion, but otherwise I would be searching around). So chapeau that you are able to do it and expect it from your students, not bad!
Best wishes,
Alban

I think you’re a fantastic cellist with exactly the right attitudes. I find many of my students enter their studies with the idea of becoming a famous soloist, without worrying generally about being a musician or an artist. A good initial test is to play a concerto through with me accompanying on cello, then swap roles. It’s really interesting when someone can’t feel the harmony they should be putting in to say the Haydn D Major, despite having memorised the solo part…!
Have you played the Kraft concerto? – Haydn’s principal cellist – It makes you wonder if he had rrather a lot to do with the C major concerto…

best wishes – yours in rosin!

Philip

I don’t really know how you got the idea that I wasn’t practising much for my concerts. I do practise a lot, and maybe I have not been as well prepared for a Haydn Concerto since about 20 years, because I had so much respect for my collaboration with Ton Koopman. I felt that the two performances of the Haydn in Cologne and Siegburg were probably the best I have given of that piece – I am sure that on recordings you might get more perfection, but I felt very free and “in charge” while playing, took all the risks possible (musically and technically) and didn’t miss too many notes (not an easy task with this highly dangerous piece – especially with radio live and in a style I am not really at home…). Sorry that you were disappointed, but I can’t fulfill everybody’s expectations (to tell you the truth, I am not even trying, it’s hard enough to fulfill my own).
Best wishes,
Alban

I heard the Haydn concerto yesterday in Cologne and I was wondering why you take so less time to practice for concerts (well I read from your Lalo/Haydn trip, too) and how you can be sure that the performance will “work”? I must admit that I was a bit disappointed by it.

Sincerely
Thomas

George