Click here to view the embedded video.

Mariss Jansons is regarded as one of the greatest conductors of our time, and I felt incredibly honored to be working with him. I was fascinated that until the very last moment he wanted to discuss details of the concerto and was keen on constantly improving our interpretation. What an intense process! Here we are discussing something on stage during the first rehearsal with the orchestra:

In some places, back-to-back nights of weighty symphonic music, such as those presented last weekend by the Cleveland Orchestra, can seem protracted. Not so at Blossom Music Center.

Between a slew of estimable artists, including four conductors, two guest soloists and a local student chamber orchestra, a well-stocked musical feast came and went in a flash.

Most engrossing was cellist Johannes Moser’s tour-de-force account Sunday of Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1. Throughout, his mission seemed to be to squeeze out every bit of musical pulp, to give listeners heart palpitations with a score that’s thrilling enough on its own.

Where the music asks for intensity, Moser answered with ferocity, wailing on his cello like a rock guitarist. The finale, especially, was a raging tide. But quieter passages were also gripping, as eerie high notes evoked utter loneliness or resignation.

Moser wasn’t out there alone. Conductor Jahja Ling, celebrating a 25-year affiliation with the orchestra, responded to the cellist in kind, and soloists on horn, oboe and clarinet injected sirenlike urgency.

(…)

To read the full review, click here

Click here

Right after my concert, I had the chance to give someone his first cello lesson:

Please check out this little video I made of my first meeting with Phyllis Chen – as you can see we had a lot of fun! If you want to learn more about Phyllis, please click here