Abstract:
The the Melbourne Cello Festival, organized by the University of Melbourne, brings together cellists from around the globe for a week of solstic playing, ensemble playing and masterclasses to celebrate and perform music written for this instrument. Its goal is to provide and promote cello at the highest level. Distinguished cellists from around Australia and overseas present the highest calibre of classical music in a variety of concerts at Melba Hall (University of Melbourne) . For the 2017 Festival artists invited included famous cellist and teacher Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi (Indiana University, Bloomington, Tokyo Gakuen School), Brandon Vamos (Indiana University, Bloomington), Meta Weiss (Queensland Conservatory),Alvin Wong (University of Melbourne) and pianists Stephen de Pledge and Caroline Almonte (University of Melbourne) . For the Gala concert, I was asked to perform the first Australian performance of contemporary Chinese composer Gao Ping's cello sonata "Departures" together with Stephen de Pledge, piano. For the Duo concert, I performed the Barriere Duo with Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, as well as the Menotti Suite ,as well as serveral cello ensemble items and the famous C major Schubert Quintet with Melbourne Uni Head of Strings Curt Thompson and Indiana University Professor Brandon Vamos. For the final concert, I played first cello for the Piazolla Seasons (arr. for 8 celli) with all other guest artists playing the other parts.