I have been in love with these pieces for years, especially the Britten sonata has been on my recital programs dozens of times, so it seemed only logical to finally record it. We paired it with Bridge, who was Brittens teacher and a wonderful composer, together with the wonderfully eloquent Bax Legend Sonata. I really hope you like it!

To order the CD, please click here.

My trip started out in Melbourne at ANAM, the Australian National Academy of Music where I worked together with the students and members of faculty in several masterclasses, workshops and a lecture on practicing efficiency. I love ANAMs philosophy of an open concept which really allows creativity to blossom and individual talent to grow.

I also participated in two performances, one a recital and the other one a cello ensemble performance staring the “12 Angry Men” for 12 angry cellos by fabulous composer Brett Dean under his baton:

From Melbourne I flew to Sydney to perform the Schumann Cello Concerto with the Sydney Symphony. Like probably everybody else, I have seen the Sydney Opera House a million times in pictures and movies, but to stand in front of the actual building and to perform in it was a really wonderful and unique experience. Before my performances started, I got a chance to see Brett Deans new opera “Bliss”, which will make its way to Europe soon. If you have a chance, definitely go see it – its a real hit!

After my last performance, I decided to turn into a tourist and climb the Harbor Bridge, which actually takes close to 4 hours because they put you in a special suit (no, this is NOT how I usually dress …) but as you can see, the view (with the opera!) was totally worth the climb:

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.

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To read the full review, click here