New recording sessions

Ah that day before the recording - how to pace oneself is the key but the temptation to over practice is always present, especially with such repertoire: Tomorrow and Sunday (1st and 2nd March) I shall be recording my summer release, the mammoth Britten Cello Symphony and the Shostakovich concerto No.2 with the Philharmonia and Alexander Briger. These are giants and fiendish to bring off but they're works I'm particularly passionate about and it continues along the Anglo-Russian theme hot on the heels of the Elgar/Myaskovsky combination. But so different!

I gather YouTube are now featuring the Wigmore recital last October - power to the people with such technology!

Thanks for the reception of the Elgar

Well I'm truly touched at the reception of the new Elgar recording by listeners and critics alike, especially the Times newspaper who have now written three. Relieved, too, that they implicitly understand what I was trying to express in this recording and appreciate the unsentimental approach - the music is romantic enough on its own!

Pleased to announce that I'll be gracing the front cover of Muso magazine this April so I'd better get my gladrags on! Currently working towards the next double concerto recording which will take place on March 1st and 2nd, released in September of this year - the challenging but ever so wonderful Britten Cello Symphony and Shostakovich's concerto No.2 - continuing the Anlgo-Russian theme.

Dvorak coming next year . . . .plus a book I'm writing at the moment: about food, life, philosophy and music. Perhaps the odd anecdote thrown in - I know I look serious whilst playing but in life I tend to be more humorous! It's like comedians who are depressive in life - I think I'm the other way around!

Thanks for logging on. More anon!

Classic FM

Just flown in from Bulgaria, got into car and as serendipity would have it, I heard the Elgar played again on Classic FM - thanks Classic FM for the plugs!

Although I'm not partial to blogging, I'm told it's a way of bridging the communication between those who want to connect or read about an artist and the artist themself - so here's an attempt!

Private by nature, I am however happy to express a certain joy at how the new recording of the Elgar is being received and understood by the critics and hopefully consumers, too. I was determined, when I put my interpretation of this masterpiece down, not to fall into the trap of emulating or carving out a rendition which sounded like so many others. I don't like indulgence in music making. Saying that, I didn't go out of my way to be different! I always believe that you play as you are ie; whatever your inner soul and personality may be, they will, whether you're conscious of it or not, infuse the very music you play. After all, we all have an intonation and timbre of voice that distinguishes who we are. It's the same in music.

I also chose to couple it with the sadly neglected Myaskovsky concerto for it was one of the few works that complemented, not competed with, Elgar's. Such beautiful and evocative music!

I don't compromise on a commercial level - and I only record and perform music that I feel passionate about for this is the prerequisite for any authentic and successful interpretation. Therefore, you're unlikely to hear me doing "lollipops", sorry! So, I hope you enjoy this record and the others before it. This summer sees another Anglo-Russian CD - Britten Cello Symphony and Shostakovich concerto No.2 also with the same forces - look out for a September release and in the meantime, encourage as many children to play and learn music, for not only is it a healer, we must ensure that classical music prevails through the future generations.

Thanks for listening!

New release

Elgar released today!

And so it begins...

Here you will find news about me. Watch this space...