Commenti a: The Week After

Di: ivan rosenfeld span

ivan rosenfeld span — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:43:02 +0000

Alban I would like to be in contact with you, but I donÂ´t know where. Ivan

Di: David Nice

David Nice — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:22:52 +0000

Seems characteristic that you haven’t so far trumpeted the Prokofiev disc, which has been out for quite some time now and garnered ecstatic reviews – waiting for my copy in some impatience, so hope to catch up on that and the Chin some time soon.

Di: Wess

Wess — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:26:30 +0000

Thanks again for this site. You have no idea how inspirational it is. Wish i could have heard the performance – well done anyway.

Regards
Wess

Di: George

George — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:33:51 +0000

Is it possible to get a DVD of this performance?

Di: Guido

Guido — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:00:31 +0000

Have to say, that I think that premiere, and your performance has been the highlight of the PROMS thus far – an extraordinarily beautiful work, and I agree that the strengths of it lie in its first and third movements. those harmonics in the slow movement both in the solo part and accompaniment are unprecedented in the cello literature I think and quite ravishing in effect. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such assured or virtuosic playing as in the faster sections – astonishing stuff. I wouldn’t worry about the memory slip – the overall impression was a great one, the absolute silence of the audience for over 20 seconds (!) after the final note a testimony to this. So sad that its so hard, I would have loved to have given it a go at some point, but I can’t see myself ever being able to play it realistically.

Cheers and congratulations!
Guido

Di: Rudi De Groote

Rudi De Groote — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:35:53 +0000

Hi Alban…
I was principal cello for your Chin performance… and if I may say so, you are an inspiration and your performance was just fantastic. I watched it afterwards and it was really interesting to hear the full effect and the gorgeous timbres and crazy rhythms that were coming through.. What a piece!! Anyway, Thanks very much for your performance….

Best wishes..

Rudi

Di: Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:22:29 +0000

Hello, Mr. Gerhardt! I have just checked your schedule and I see that you are performing the Shostakovich 1 in Manila in September! To hear this live would be a dream come true for me. 😀 I I will be watching both nights, I love the Beethoven sonata in A. I can not wait!

All the best to you!

Di: Robert

Robert — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:32:33 +0000

I couldn’t make it to the Albert Hall so heard it live on TV. It came over beautifully and the effect was stunning. NO WAY I’d have noticed your mistakes! Nice interview at the end. Congratulations, and please come back and play it again soon when I’ll be sure to be there in person.

Di: Alban

Alban — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 10:06:59 +0000

Hello David,
too bad we didn’t connect – but there will always be a next time (hopefully)…
Yes, Pamina is my third sister, the other names are similarily “rare”: Manon, Cosima, Pamina and Darius (the last of us five is a boy, yes). And yes, I guess Alban after Alban Berg, Manon after “in memory of an angel” Manon Gropius (for whom Alban wrote the violinconcerto), Cosima not really for the person C.Wagner, but they loved the name (and she is a lovely woman, just gave birth to her third child a couple of hours ago!!), and Pamina obviously Magic Flute (my mother sang that aria “Ach, ich fÃ¼hl’s, es ist entschwunden” so beautifully, it still makes me cry if I think of it) – Darius for Darius Milhaud.
Best wishes from windy Berlin,
Alban

Di: David Nice

David Nice — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:23:02 +0000

Greetings, Alban – so sorry I wasn’t in the UK when you played the Chin, after all that talk about having to catch your next London concert. We all respect your tremendous candour, that’s what makes this blog so unique.

Pamina – what a lovely name, and knowing your father’s provenance, it’s obvious why. Were you called Alban after Berg?

Well, looking forward to your next Wigmore date (a fascinating programme, I dimly seem to remember).

All best,

David