Elgar Archives

Cello Concerto Overview: The Should Haves (Part I)

Reprinted with permission from Interlude. Concert Favorites: Cello Concertos That You Should Learn Wilhelm Fitzenhagen My teacher János Starker used to say that cellist soloists have to be ready to play a greater number of concertos than our more brilliant sister, the violinist, who can play an entire season with four or perhaps five concerti under their fingers—think Brahms, Mendelsohn, Barber, and Sibelius; or Bruch, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Bartók. Likewise, audience members are thrilled to hear a pianist perform the masterworks of Rachmaninoff, Mendelssohn, Mozart, and either of the Prokofiev’s; or, Grieg, Schumann, Shostakovich, Bartók and either of the Ravels. Cellists, though, have the disadvantage of fewer pieces written for their instrument and not all of them are considered the quality of the concertos named above. Some are neglected or obscure [...]

By Janet Horvath|2024-07-05T20:10:38-04:00April 10th, 2022|Categories: Repertoire|Tags: Dvorak, Walton, Jacqueline du Pré, Walton Concerto, Dvorak Concerto, Elgar Concerto, Mischa Maisky, Standard Repertoire, Cello Repertoire, Janet Horvath, Gregor Piatigorsky, Cello Concertos, Kian Soltani, Elgar, Jian Wang|

Conversation with Shauna Rolston (January, 2006)

Interview by Tim Janof Having been named "Young Artist to Watch" by Musical America and the youngest recipient of the Pro Musicis International Award, celebrated cellist Shauna Rolston is considered to be one of the most compelling musicians of her generation. She has been praised for the ease and naturalness of her technique, her pure intonation, sheer fearlessness, and her ability to produce a huge tone and to play with great delicacy. According to Classic CD Magazine "her recording of Elgar's cello concerto is worthy to stand alongside Jacqueline du Pré's classic account. This could be the most remarkable performance of the last 20 years." Following her formative studies at the renowned Banff Centre, Shauna earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from Yale University and a Master [...]

By Tim Janof|2024-07-24T19:37:35-04:00October 25th, 2019|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Interviews|Tags: Aldo Parisot, ICS, Yale, William Pleeth, Banff, Shauna Rolston, Internet Cello Society Archive, Elgar, Pierre Fournier|

A Much Maligned Cellist: The True Story of Felix Salmond and the Elgar Cello Concerto (Part 4)

Blog photos courtesy of the Tully Potter Collection. This blog is a continuation of a multi-part series. Revisit it from the beginning in Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3. The original article first appeared in the Elgar Society Journal. THE EMIGRATION Early in 1922 the Salmonds left England for New York with their two children: Lillian had borrowed money to help pay for their passage and their living expenses while Felix established himself. On 29 March he made a successful recital début at the Aeolian Hall with Frank Bibb at the piano; but it soon became apparent that he would not earn much more as a soloist than he had in England, and that he would have to take a teaching post in order to make ends meet. He [...]

By Tully Potter|2024-08-05T13:00:40-04:00February 15th, 2018|Categories: Historical, Repertoire|Tags: premiere, Felix Salmond, juilliard, cello concerto, london symphony orchestra, criticism, composers, recording, Elgar|

A Much Maligned Cellist: The True Story of Felix Salmond and the Elgar Cello Concerto (Part 3)

Original image provided by the Salmond Family. This blog is a continuation of a multi-part series. Revisit Part 1 here, and Part 2 here. The original article first appeared in the Elgar Society Journal. The next development in the saga was that Fred Gaisberg of HMV wanted to record the Concerto—he had obviously not been put off by the première. As had happened with the Violin Concerto, just four 12-inch 78rpm sides would be available, but the more compact Cello Concerto would not need to be cut quite so drastically—the Scherzo would require only a small excision and the Adagio would be accommodated complete on one side. Sadly Salmond was under contract to Vocalion, so could not be considered. Guilhermina Suggia was approached but wanted too high a fee. The [...]

By Tully Potter|2024-08-05T13:00:59-04:00February 13th, 2018|Categories: Historical, Repertoire|Tags: Elgar, premiere, Felix Salmond, cello concerto, london symphony orchestra, criticism, composers, recording|

A Much Maligned Cellist: The True Story of Felix Salmond and the Elgar Cello Concerto (Part 2)

Blog photo courtesy of the Tully Potter Collection. This blog is a continuation of a multi-part series. Revisit Part 1 here. The original article first appeared in the Elgar Society Journal. The fiasco that never was Just how much of a disaster was the premiere? Let us review some of the salient points, starting with the soloist. All those who knew him were agreed that Felix Salmond had a phenomenal memory, so there is every probability that he knew the cello part intimately by the time he arrived at Queen’s Hall. As the son of a singer, he had early imbibed the virtues of a singing line and good breath control. As a virtuoso he was no Feuermann or Piatigorsky but the few discs which document him in fast-moving music [...]

By Tully Potter|2024-08-07T18:30:04-04:00February 5th, 2018|Categories: Historical, Repertoire|Tags: composers, Elgar, premiere, Felix Salmond, cello concerto, criticism|

A Much Maligned Cellist: The True Story of Felix Salmond and the Elgar Cello Concerto (Part 1)

Blog photos courtesy of the Tully Potter Collection. This article first appeared in the Elgar Society Journal. Tully Potter tries to lay a myth to rest. Sometimes a myth becomes so firmly entrenched in the public consciousness that the true facts are completely obscured. So it has been with that archetypal English cellist Felix Salmond, whose career is always woefully misrepresented. In his adopted country, the United States, he is remembered for teaching at Juilliard and Curtis and nurturing most of the prominent 1930s and post-war American cellists. In Britain he is indelibly linked with the premiere of Elgar’s E minor Concerto, an event now encrusted with fables. Felix Adrian Norman Salmond was born in London on 19 November 1888, to musical parents: his father Norman was a [...]

By Tully Potter|2024-08-07T18:30:24-04:00February 5th, 2018|Categories: Historical, Repertoire|Tags: composers, Elgar, premiere, Felix Salmond, cello concerto|

Gary Hoffman Master Class Streamed Live on CelloBello Nov 3rd 2011 7-10 pm EDT

We are proud to present a CelloBello live-streamed event! Join us on Thursday by clicking on the link below: www.cellobello.org/blog/cellostream Gary Hoffman Master Class New England Conservatory, Pierce Hall Thursday, Nov 3rd, 7-10 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) CelloBello is pleased to continue presenting master classes live, as it happens, featuring cellist Emily Taubl.

By Blogmaster|2017-06-18T01:43:36-04:00November 2nd, 2011|Categories: Artistic Vision, CelloStream, In the Practice Room, Playing Healthy, Self Discovery, Teaching|Tags: Elgar, cello, Masterclass, cellobello, NEC, New England Conservatory, Pierce Hall, Boston|