Shirley Smart, our Beyond Cello division leader, releases new album to rave reviews… Jazz Views (Nick Lea) www.jazzviews.net/shirley-smart—long-story-short HiFi (Tony Anderson) www.hifianswers.com/2019/01/long-story-short-shirley-smart/
Huge thanks to the stellar line-up of cellists who performed for LCS on 25 November. 5 Montagnanas, 1 Serafin, 1 Groffiller. In no particular order: Guy Johnston, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Boris Andrianov, Ralph Kirshbaum, Amit Peled, Raphael Wallfisch, John Lenehan, Pedro de Silva, and the RAM period instrument ensemble.
A preview of Glories of Venice: A Celebration of Rare Cellos, Sunday 25th November at the Royal Academy of Music, Dukes Hall 5pm and 7pm A Celebration of Rare Cellos Sponsored by Brompton’s Fine and Rare Instrument Justin Pearson describes the encounter: I was privileged to witness the first meeting between Charles Beare, the “world’s greatest authority on fine Italian stringed instruments” (CNN) with the charismatic young British cellist, Sheku
Ralph Kirshbaum, Montagnana 1729 “I fell in love with it more and more. It was obvious that this was ‘the cello’. I’ve played many other cellos in my life – great Strads and other Montagnanas – which I can appreciate, but this is the one I love. To have found it and be with it all this time is the greatest fortune I could imagine.” Ralph Kirshbaum, describes his emotional
“I met Mrs Marta Casals Istomin and the historic 1733 Matteo Goffriller cello of her late husband, Pablo Casals in 2012. The idea of seeing that instrument up close was hard for me to grasp. How could I, a simple man, son of farmer’s from a tiny kibbutz in Israel, hold now the instrument that helped Casals redefine cello history? This cello made the journey with the maestro from Spain
The best instrument of all chosen to celebrate the nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Are we partial? Of course! Hear the beautiful performance below.
Award-winning cellist, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, donates thousands to old secondary school so 10 other young people can continue having cello lessons. Story from bbc.co.uk view the whole story and video here >>
LCS is pleased to announce a grant of £10,000 just awarded for a chamber music initiative with In Harmony Lambeth cellos, part of El Sistema England and Lambeth Music Service. Under the tutelage of Cellophony, this new cello octet has yet to be named and formed, but we are already looking forward to the concert next summer. It’s going to be an exciting ride with eight young and keen cellists.
Sam Pryce has written a review of Kate Shortt after an entertaining evening at King’s Place in London. Read the full review on The Cusp – Cello Cabaret here >>
10 years ago, Guy Johnston’s cello was broken on a trans-Atlantic flight coming back from a US tour, leading to a 7-year search for a particular cello carved meticulously 300 years ago in Rome by one of the greatest instrument makers of all time – David Tecchler. Guy was helped to buy the cello by a consortium of generous patrons and the Royal Society of Musicians. Following the 300th anniversary of his
