• Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Site Map
  • Event Calendar
  • Press Room
  • Video

Home / Author:

Author Archive for: ‘Lynn Harrell’

Yom Hashoah 3

It has been now 15 years since I performed Bruch’s Kol Nidre at the Vatican for a concert commemorating the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust . The memory continues to vibrate my soul and I think of these ten minutes of music in my career and life as a seminal to my personality growth as an artist and man.

With Gilbert Levine conducting, the Philharmonia of London was brought to Rome especially for this event. Levine spent years working in Poland where he met John Paul II and started talking with him about a possible event that would be meaningful for both Christians and Jews with the theme of a memorial for the Jews who died in the war. At that time, the Pope-to-be confessed having had school friends who were taken away and never seen of again, making the time very alive and real in this holy man’s psyche.

Read More
Posted on: 04-11-2010
Posted in: Blog, Concert Events

Why Gotterdammerung? 3

One of the reasons, I believe, that I was interested in the cello from a very young age is the fact that the cello is an ensemble instrument; we play with others. Later, when I wanted to be a professional musician it was because I loved the music so much; it uplifted my spirit, it inspired my imagination, and it was solace to the heart. I have always thought of this first. The fact that I have enjoyed being one of the select, few solo cellists in the last 40 years is certainly a gift. But, that’s a byproduct and not a goal, whether I became “famous” died out in my mind at about age 11.

So when the opportunity comes around to take part in a section, I’m always happy to take advantage. It doesn’t happen as often and under the right circumstances as much as I would like but one recent occasion came around to participate in the LA Opera’s production of the Ring Cycle. I happened to be free and this would offer the chance to play alongside my wife and so many other wonderful colleagues.

Read More
Posted on: 04-8-2010
Posted in: Blog, Career Development, Concert Events, Musicality

The composer’s intentions 5

One thing that has always irked me whenever I give Master classes at different conservatories and Universities while on tour. And it is starting to concern me more deeply than before. What is that you ask? It’s a seemingly deliberate disregard for how a composer has marked his music. For example, directions and hints to the would-be performer on how to play the piece, what speed to take, what balance, goodness; even what notes are correct.

What we’re talking about here is a basic level of respect for the text but what seems to be more and more common these days is just guessing at the meaning of metronome markings and foreign words. The result is an increasing number of would-be performers feeling more and more entitled to change what has been left by the original creator and to feel as though their flimsy, novel approaches are legitimate simply because they are novel.

Read More
Posted on: 03-28-2010
Posted in: Blog, Musicality

A quick note to everyone 5

I have to apologize for not posting anything sooner but I’m happy to say that I’ll be publishing something later this afternoon and I’ve already written something very special for Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Posted on: 03-28-2010
Posted in: Blog

Audio From My WFMT Appearance 0

A candid photo during the show. Photo: Louise Frank

On January 8th, I posted a quick note letting everyone know about my guest host appearance at Chicago’s WFMT. I’m very happy to report that they have been kind enough to let me post the entire audio from the three hour segment here at my blog! I had an absolutely wonderful time with host Kerry Frumkin. The entire program has been divided into three sections and you can listen to each one with the audio players below.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Read More
Posted on: 02-18-2010
Posted in: Blog

A Tribute To Orlando Cole 11

Orlando Cole and me during a masterclass at Curtis in the mid-80s. My sincere thanks to Curtis Institute of Music for providing this photo.

Today, my great mentor, teacher, and colleague, Orlando Cole died peacefully after saying to his nurse, “Well, I’m ready.” “God will come for you in His time,” said his nurse to whom Landy softly replied, “Well, tell Him to hurry.”

Lucid to the end with family by his side they listened to Schubert’s Cello Quintet. He was, even in the end, an inspiration to us all; as human beings, as musicians, and as vibrant spirits.

In my own life, I never met anyone so understanding, generous, and vitally connected to his love of music, family, friends, and his students. I am deeply indebted to his quality as an artist as well as his awe of the great works that we are privileged to play and hear. He was one of a kind and over the course of his wonderfully long and full life; he witnessed so much change since starting out as a young cellist in the late 1920’s.

Read More
Posted on: 01-26-2010
Posted in: Blog
Page 3 of 5«12345»

There’s Always Room For Cello

Welcome to my blog. I am a 67 year old solo cellist who has been touring the world for the last 40 years playing almost everywhere of note in the classical music scene alongside many of the greatest musicians. Over all these years, I have accumulated many stories, opinions, and insights, and gifts of the spirit as well as objects. It has been and still is incredibly inspiring work and even though I consider myself “techno-challenged” I wanted to have an outlet to share everything.

Popular Posts

  • Songs My Father Taught Me
    06-19-2011
  • The additional photos I promised
    03-4-2011
  • New HEARTbeats videos
    10-11-2011

Recent Comments

  • Shelah Leader on Songs My Father Taught Me
  • Northwestern’s Winter Chamber Music Festival » Revu.ExportPro on About
  • Carrick Patterson on New HEARTbeats videos
  • Atsuko on New HEARTbeats videos
  • Mark hazelbaker on New HEARTbeats videos

Donate now…

…to my HEARTbeats Foundation and make a difference in a child’s life today!

click to donate

Visit the HEARTbeats website.

Lynn uses…

 

Archives

Upcoming Events
  • Thu, Feb 16:Miro String Quartet
« Previous     Next »
Recent Posts
  • WFMT Artist Of The Year
  • New HEARTbeats videos
  • Not one, but TWO terrific things happened today!
Additional Info
  • Contact webmaster
  • Blog Policy
  • Representation Contact
  • Website designed and maintained by Drew McManus LLC
© 2011 Harrell-Nightengale LLC. All Rights Reserved