Alisa Weilerstein is still in her 20s, but already she is hailed by New York Magazine as the "heiress apparent to Yo-Yo Ma." Washington, Dc recently enjoyed her marvelous talent at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue accompanied by pianist Inon Barnatan. The program, one of their favorites, featured four works for cello ranging over two centuries
They opened with Beethoven's Cello Sonata No. 5, written as he entered his final period. The third and last movement portends his use of fugues in his 9th symphony and his late string quartets. Next they played Benjamin Britten's Cello Sonata in C major composed in 1961. The only sonata he wrote, it was dedicated to Mstislav Rostropovich, as were his three cello suites written in the middle of 1964 and 1971.
Piano Concerto
The second quantum of the evening began with de Falla's Suite Populaire Espagnole, six melodic songs from folk or popular traditions which the composer arranged in 1926 with unique harmonics. The agenda complete with Chopin's Cello Sonata in G minor, the last of his compositions to be published, the only one he wrote for the cello, and one of nine he wrote for instruments other than the piano. Written in 1846, it was dedicated to his friend the cellist Auguste-Joseph Franchomme. They performed it together in 1848 at Chopin's final collective concert before his death a year later.
Weilerstein points out that Chopin did not write a lot of room music, but this sonata is so beautifully written and profound that it makes her wonder what else he would have written had he lived longer. This work and the others she chose for this event record the journey she likes to take in a agenda rather than focus on a single French or German composer. She finds the Beethoven sonata, the earliest of the group, especially intelligent because Beethoven loved fugues and she hears a lot of jazz and ragtime in it, something the typical listener might not expect.
Weilerstein has been playing the cello since the age of four-and-a half when she begged her mum for lessons. Since production her debut with the Cleveland Orchestra at age 13, she has pursued her occupation with fervor as both room music performer and soloist with major orchestras. She and her parents comprise the Weilerstein Trio based at the New England Conservatory in Boston. Along with receiving numerous honors, along with an Avery Fisher occupation Grant and the Leonard Bernstein Prize, she graduated from Columbia University in 2004 with a B.A. In Russian history.
The chance that has meant the most to her is performing in November 2009 at the White House. The musical event, the first of any planned over the next few years, allowed her to work with 24 cello students from all over the country and play for the President and his family. She will not soon forget the reaction on the faces of his daughter Malia and the other youngsters attending.
Weilerstein's demanding agenda this season already has included two performances with Maestro Gustavo Dudamel, once in Venezuela with the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, and at her Los Angeles Philharmonic debut in early May. Afterwards, she flew to London for the 2010 European Concert to mark the founding of the Berlin Philharmonic. While in England, she was guest soloist with the Halle Orchestra in Manchester playing the Dvorak Concerto in B Minor before flying back in time to repeat the Dvorak with the Virginia Symphony for the Virginia Arts Festival in Williamsburg while the Memorial Day Weekend. Prior to her Washington concert, she made her yearly appearance at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, one of her popular venues.
As one of many who have diabetes, she takes great satisfaction in speaking to children with the disease and presenting herself and her accomplishments as proof that they can lead happy and effective lives.
"I want them to remember that there still isn't a cure and we must keep working toward that goal," she said. "In the meantime, I keep telling my story and assuring children that we can do anything we want."
Alisa Weilerstein, a Young Cellist on the Fast Road to Success
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