New Videos: Rachmaninoff Cello Sonata

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I have four new videos available of myself and pianist Yuja Wang performing Rachmaninoff’s Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 19 at the 2008 Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival.  Audio and Video Produced and Engineered by Matthew Snyder of Matthew Snyder Recordings. Festival artistic director Marc Neikrug, executive director Steven Ovitsky, and everyone at the festival do a wonderful job and it is always a pleasure to perform here.

Yom Hashoah

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. (more…)

Why Gotterdammerung?

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. (more…)

A Whirlwind Weekend In Chicago

What fun it was to spend the last few days in Chicago and I wanted to take a quick moment to post some photos from the trip.

WFMT, Guest Host
Friday, 1/8/2010

That's WFMT announcer Kerry Frumkin on the left. He did an outstanding job and was a wonderful host.

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Photos From The Road: Memphis

My latest recital performance took place on Thursday, October 22nd in Memphis, TN at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre. It was a wonderful event and it gives me the chance to introduce Victor Asuncion, a wonderful pianist I frequently collaborate with.

Caught in mid performance.

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Some Photos From The Road

I recently had the pleasure of performing with Shanghai Quartet at the La Jolla Music Society’s 41st season opening concert. Here are a couple of pics from that concert.

LtoR: Ji-Wen from the Shanghai Quartet, Christopher Beach of La Jolla Chamber Music Society, and me

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