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Intense: Steven Isserlis

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

11 August 2008
Concert Hall - QPAC
Cnr Grey St & Melbourne St, South Brisbane

Renowned cellist Steven Isserlis joins Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) for a night of intense musical production. Isserlis is one of the most recognised living cellists, praised equally for his authentic performance style and his programming ingenuity. Isserlis has worked with Tognetti, artistic director and lead violinist of the ACO, to produce an innovative program that draws inspiration from native folk music.

As soloist, Isserlis performs CPE Bach's Cello Concerto and Ravel's Two Hebrew Melodies. Accompanied by the orchestra, Isserlis explores Bartok's Divertimento for Strings and Bargiel's Octet in C Minor. As an extension of his interest in Schumann, Isserlis has chosen a reasonably unknown piece by Bargiel who was Schumann's half-brother-in-law. Bargiel's work is reminiscent of Mendelssohn while Ravel and Bartok are united by their interest in native music.

Isserlis plays, and guards with his life, a rare Stradivarius cello that was made in 1730. The 'De Munck' was made when Stradivarius was 86 years old, was played by the great cellist Emmanuel Feuermann and is loaned to Isserlis by the Nippon Music Foundation of Japan. Isserlis is also a writer and is the author of two books for children: Why Beethoven Threw the Stew and Why Handel Waggled His Wig.

Ryan Lungu