Cello moments (Jul 1, 2019)
2018–2019 season finale:
JOURNEY TO THE MOON
It will be fifty years on Jul 20 since humans first set foot on the moon so join us for the celebration with the ignition sequence and liftoff in Robert Paterson's "Moon Trip" (last movement of his "Moon Trio") performed by the Claremont Trio, followed by a meditation of the moon in Kaija Saariaho's "Oi Kuu" played by bass clarinetist Péter Szũcs and cellist Ditta Rohmann, and finally the world premiere of Jake Heggie's "Earthrise"—inspired by the iconic photo of earthrise taken during lunar orbit—performed by musical saw player Anita Orne and the Miró Quartet.
Photo: Neil Armstrong on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission.
Cello moments (Jun 1, 2019)
World Oceans Day
In celebration of World Oceans Day on Jun 8, join us for sea voyages from the Greek mythology to time travel through the geologic epochs! First, embark with Felix Vermeirsch on the epic ten-year journey to the island kingdom of Ithaca in the cellist-composer's "Odysseus 10" for cello solo. Next, sail across restless waters with cellist Ani Aznavoorian and percussionist Svet Stoyanov in William Kraft's "Encounters V: In the Morning of the Winter Sea" based on a poem of Carl A. Faber. And finally, let's travel from the beginning to the end of time with flautist Tatjana Ruhland, cellist Rahel Krämer and pianist Christoph Grund in the mesmerizing SWR production of George Crumb's "Vox Balaenae (Voice of the Whale)"!
Cello moments (May 1, 2019)
International Museum Day
Following our feature last year on museums in New York, Montreal and Tel Aviv, come join us for this year's celebration showcasing performances at three museums in Europe! First let's start at Museo del Violino in Cremona, Italy and watch Natalia Gutman perform Prelude from Bach's Cello Suite No. 3; then to Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk, Denmark where Karen Gomyo and Christian Poltéra play Honegger's Sonatine for violin and cello (3rd movement); and finally let's head to Musée du Louvre in Paris, France to attend a concert of Quatuor Modigliani performing Schubert's "Quartettsatz" in C minor.
Image: "Projet d'aménagement de la Grande Galerie du Louvre" by Hubert Robert, 1796
Cello moments (Apr 5, 2019)
International Dance Day
International Dance Day is coming up on Apr 29 so join us to celebrate with three collaborations of cello and dance in New York, Utrecht and Berlin. First let's watch Yo-Yo Ma and Lil Buck—who specializes in a street dance style called jookin—perform Saint-Saëns' "The Swan" at Le Poisson Rouge in a production conceived and directed by Damian Woetzel; then to the Netherlands for a VPRO broadcasted performance of flamenco dancer Leonor Leal with Maya Fridman playing Cassadó's "Intermezzo e danza finale" (3rd movement of his Suite for Cello Solo); and finally let's enjoy a gala evening presentation of Piazzolla's "Libertango" by the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic and the Ispasión Dance Couple!
Cello moments (Mar 5, 2019)
Women's History Month
March is Women's History Month and we're shining the spotlight on three great women composers! Come join the celebration and watch Ellen Taaffe Zwilich's Septet—a pioneering work for piano trio and string quartet—performed by Arianna Warsaw‐Fan and Meta Weiss (winner of our 2nd Listeners' Choice Award) with pianist Henry Kramer and the Amphion Quartet, Sofia Gubaidulina's "Sieben Worte"—an iconic work featuring the unusual combination of cello and bayan—played by Jean‐Guihen Queyras and Geir Draugsvoll alongside the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, and finally Rebecca Clarke's piano trio—one of her best known works—performed by the ATOS Trio.
Cello moments (Feb 1, 2019)
For the valentines
In the middle of winter with Valentine's Day fast approaching, there is nothing better than to snuggle in front of a cozy fire and enjoy some beautiful music. Let's watch Richard Strauss' "Romanze" performed by cellist Emmanuelle Bertrand with Jan Latham-Koenig conducting Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen, Enescu's "Sérénade lointaine"—written in 1903 for the wedding anniversary of the King and Queen of Romania—played by the Spiegel Trio; and Auguste Franchomme's "Romance" performed by cellist Stefano Guarino with Giancarlo Guarino conducting the Ensemble Zandonai.
Cello moments (Jan 2, 2019; edited Jul 2, 2021)
Winter escape
Best wishes to you for a very happy new year! Come join us for a musical journey to Latin America to escape from the wintry weather! Let's watch Villa-Lobos' "Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1" (Modinha) performed by the London Cello Orchestra conducted by Geoffrey Simon, José Bragato's "Graciela y Buenos Aires" played by Laura Metcalf and Matei Varga (nominee of our 5th Listeners' Choice Award), and Leo Brouwer's "Nostalgia de las Montañas" performed by the Apollo Chamber Players.
Cello moments (Dec 1, 2018)
'Tis the holiday season
Happy December! Join us to celebrate the holiday season and watch Pablo Casals' famous arrangement of the traditional Catalan Christmas carol "El cant dels ocells" played by cellist Harriet Krijgh and pianist Chizu Miyamoto; next let's enjoy a festive performance of Sarah Quartel's "Snow Angel" given by cellist Heather Lynn with Les Sirènes conducted by Andrew Nunn; and finally don't miss Jethro Tull's new version of "Ring Out, Solstice Bells" played by Ian Anderson with the Carducci Quartet!
Cello moments (Nov 2, 2018)
Hunting music from Brahms to Widmann
With hunting season in full swing, join us for music for the hunt and watch Brahms' Piano Trio No. 1 in B major (2nd movement) performed by Trio Shaham Erez Wallfisch, Paganini's Caprice No. 9 "The Hunt" played by cellist Jeremy Findlay, and Jörg Widmann's String Quartet No. 3 "Hunting Quartet" performed by Quartet Berlin-Tokyo.
Cello moments (Oct 1, 2018)
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage
While historic videos of Jacqueline du Pré and others have been featured on Cello moments on various occasions, this month is our very first time to showcase three historic videos side by side in celebration of the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage on Oct 27. Let's watch Leonard Rose and Glenn Gould play Beethoven's Cello Sonata in A major (1st movement) in a 1961 CBC show, Mstislav Rostropovich and Lambert Orkis perform a twenty-minute program (Bach, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and Popper) at the White House in 1994, and Janos Starker with Denis Pascal play Brahms' Cello Sonata in F major (1st movement) in a concert at the Théâtre de la Ville in 2000.
Cello moments (Aug 31, 2018; edited Jan 2, 2021)
Inspired by literature
In celebration of International Literacy Day on Sep 8, join us for three cello works inspired by literature. Let's watch Richard Strauss' "Don Quixote"—based on Miguel de Cervantes' novel "Don Quixote"—performed by cellist Alban Gerhardt with Walter Weller conducting Orquesta Sinfónica de RTVE; Dutilleux's "Tout un monde lointain..."—inspired by Charles Baudelaire's poems "Les Fleurs du mal"—played by cellist Konstanze von Gutzeit with Nicolás Pasquet conducting Orchestra of the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar; and Geoffrey Gordon's "The Doktor Faustus Concerto"—after Thomas Mann's novel "Doktor Faustus"—performed by cellist Toke Møldrup with Rory MacDonald conducting the Copenhagen Phil.
Image: "The Reading Lesson" by Knut Ekwall
