Cello Recital: Nine All-Star Soloists
Celebrate the legacy of the great Pablo Casals
We celebrate the legacy of the legendary cellist Pablo Casals and his musical connections to Boston and Puerto Rico. In October 1901 Casals began performing Bach’s solo cello suites in public, the catalyst for their popularity with audiences today. On November 26, 1901 Casals made his Boston debut at the Colonial Theatre as part of his first U.S. tour with soprano Emma Nevada.
This performance is not included in the Celebrity Series subscription.
A powerhouse roster of nine prominent cellists performs music from Pablo Casals’ 1901 Boston debut recital, works from the Casals Festivals, and the Boston premiere of Casals’ Cinco Obras for cello and piano.
The concert features Casals’ godson and New England Conservatory string chair Lluís Claret, Boston Symphony Orchestra Principal cellist Blaise Déjardin, and cellists Mike Block, Eugene Friesen, Yeesun Kim, Robert Mayes, Aristides Rivas, Rhonda Rider, and Nicholas Tzavaras, with pianist Pei-Shan Lee.
A pre-concert talk features Casals scholar Pedro Reina-Pérez, Lluís Claret, and Brian and Rosi Amador. Tickets are $5, with proceeds to benefit the Massachusetts United for Puerto Rico Fund.
Featured cello soloists:
With special guest cellists:
Featuring pianist:
Program
This program will feature selections from Casals’ 1901 Boston debut, notable selections from the Puerto Rico festivals established in 1957, and other works.
Fauré - Élégie (cello ensemble)
Bach - Cello Suite no. 3 in C major
Mendelssohn-Bartholdy - Song without Words in D major, Op. 109 (posthumous)
Beethoven - Seven Variations in E flat major on “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen”
Saint-Saëns - Allegro Appassionato
Block - original song tbd
Casals - Cinco Obras para violonchelo y piano BOSTON PREMIERE
Casals - “Sant Martí del Canigó” Sardana (cello ensemble)
Featured cello soloists and special guests
Mike Block
Lluís Claret
Blaise Déjardin
Yeesun Kim
Aristides Rivas
Eugene Friesen
Rhonda Rider
Nicholas Tzavaras
Pei-Shan Lee
Mike Block
Lluís Claret
Blaise Déjardin
Yeesun Kim
Aristides Rivas
Eugene Friesen
Rhonda Rider
Nicholas Tzavaras
Pei-Shan Lee
“This tribute to Pablo Casals has for me many meanings. First of all, as a cellist I think that Casals is not only my godfather, but the godfather of all of us since he developed a new approach to the instrument and a very personal and unusual way to make music through it. Every cellist should be proud to honor Pablo Casals, and performing his music will bring the event at an even higher level. ”
Lluís Claret Cellist
Pablo Casals
Pablo Casals: Bach Cello Solo Nr.1, BWV 1007 (8. 1954)
Pablo Casals: Bach Cello Solo Nr.1, BWV 1007 (8. 1954)
A Boston Tribute to Pablo Casals is generously supported by an anonymous donor. Additional support for this project is provided by Nancy & Richard Lubin.
Thank you to our supporters!
Celebrity Series of Boston is grateful to our 2019-20 Season Sponsors Amy & Joshua Boger, and to the many individual donors whose generosity supports Neighborhood Arts. Celebrity Series is also grateful to the following corporations, foundations, and government agencies for their support in the 2019-20 season:
Stephanie L. Brown Foundation
Susanne Marcus Collins Foundation
Bessie Pappas Charitable Foundation
Stifler Family Foundation
Anonymous
Neighborhood Arts is also made possible by support from the LIVE PERFORMANCE! Arts for All Endowment & Innovation Funds of the Celebrity Series of Boston.
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