David Caron knew Aronson, and Aronson loved his cellos. What number is/was your Caron and can you share some details about the difference between your Caron and your older italians?
So far I have only played one cello that was obviously better than my Caron, a 115K 1915 Carlo Carletti.
It was glorious, and I wonder how much of the difference can be attributed to age.
Your thoughts would be helpful.
Thanx

Philip

You should know that one thing that is really difficult for the over 25 year olds that begin cello more than the violin is that our bones have hardened and learning to stretch is particularly challenging.I can show you that my left pinky finger is 3/8 of an inch longer than my right. And my right 1st finger is warped much more to the right because of the bow hold than my left. So there are skeletal changes brought on by early development. But the good news is that you can practice SO much more efficiently as an adult than as a child! Good luck

When did you play with them? I can thank the Nazis for my good fortune. Let me explain:
I was born in 1944 and later joined the Cleveland Orchestra. I am an American, but because of the great musician immigrants that I learned from, I can boast that I am the only cellist who worked Don Quixote with 2 who knew and worked with Strauss directly: Piatigorsky and Szell. They may have never come to America to stay and build a new new life here except for the destruction of their lives and culture at home.

P.S. This summer I am converting to Judaism . Sincerely, Lynn Harrell

I don’t remember you! Fill me in , please. I’m going to WFMT in Chicago this week(May 9 etc.) to be part of their 60th Birthday . Tune in -It will be a great program! Lynn

I’m a student cellist in New York City, and I’ve been playing for a few years now. In a different comment you mentioned skypes/chats to answer certain questions, and I’ve been having a little trouble with both wider, more expressive vibrato and pulling more sound from my (admittedly quiet) instrument. Do you think it would be possible to skype at some point? I wouldn’t need continuous lessons, of course, but I’d just like to obtain advice from someone whose playing I admire. If you’re too busy and cannot, I completely understand.

Thank you for your unbelievable recordings (I now listen to them more than anyone else’s),
Mac Taback

Kris

As a son of an old, now long retired, violinist with the BSO it was

doubly wonderful hearing you do such a fine job on the great “Don Quixote.”

Best regards,

Paul Nagy

Thank you for sharing you knowledge and promoting this online space. I have just found out some of your extremely helpful learning videos on youtube and am trying to apply your tips on my playing.

I am 32 and began taking weekly cello lessons about 4 months ago and it has become one of the most demanding endeavors that i have ever taken on my life. I would love to hear from other late learners some tips/encouragement.

Kind regards to all.

Luis

When I checked back I saw you had replied. A death in the family set me back a few months but I was happy to hear from you. Glad you are exploring contemporary music so much. Though I will always be a cellist first, writing music has been a wonderful direction for me and has made me look at the composers we play everyday from a new, more human vantage point. If you are interested, I could send you some of my music. I have two works for 8 cellos, a string sextet, and a work for either double bass and piano or cello and piano. This has been recorded on Albany Label on double Bass, but was always intended for either cello or Bass. To date, a cellist hasn’t performed this work, largely because double bass players are always seeking new works in all areas…more so then cellists I think!
Sorry to take so long to write back and hope to hear from you when you have time.
Chris