Welcome to Con Fuoco, CutCommon’s interview series with emerging musicians in Australia.
Phoebe Russell, 23, returned home to Australia in early 2017 to take up the position of Principal Double Bass with Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
She was 17 years old when she settled in Berlin and within months made her debut in the double bass section of the Berlin Philharmonic. Since then she has performed in more than 20 countries across the globe with leading orchestras including the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra among others. She has performed under great conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Daniel Barenboim, and Gustavo Dudamel.
In 2012, Phoebe was an Australian Chamber Orchestra Emerging Artist and was a soloist and chamber musician in the Wilma and Friends series run by Wilma Smith.
The Melbourne-born musician spent two years as scholarship recipient of the Berlin Philharmonic’s prestigious Karajan Orchestra Academy from 2013 to 2015, and was a Bachelor student at the Hanns Eisler University of Music in Berlin. Phoebe is also an alumna of the Australian National Academy of Music where she completed a professional performance program in 2011.
In 2015, she performed as recitalist to a full house in the Berlin Philharmonic’s lunchtime series and a few months later, won the conductors prize for best concerto in the 2016 Carl Flesch Akademie Concerto competition. Phoebe has appeared as a soloist, both at home and abroad, with orchestras that include the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, the Baden Baden Philharmonic Orchestra, the Zelman Symphony Orchestra and the Melbourne Youth Strings Orchestra.
Your all-time favourite piece of music?
I feel like it depends on my mood and what is going through my head on the day. Two weeks ago, we played Scriabin’s Poem of Ecstasy with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra – a piece I’ve been dying to play for years. The experience has been re-running through my head ever since, as it was such a spiritual experience. Scriabin was a mystic and sensory explorer who really believed in the power of his music, and when I’m in the thick of the performance, his music feels incredibly emotionally indulgent to perform.
Biggest fear when performing?
I definitely have a few, however I feel that I shouldn’t say them out loud or I may jinx myself!
Most memorable concert experience?
My whole childhood, I have been in love with New York City and have dreamt of playing at Carnegie Hall. I guess it stemmed from all the old movies I watched and all my musical heroes that have performed at Carnegie Hall over the years.
When I was 20, I had the chance to travel with the Berlin Philharmonic to New York to be a part of their Carnegie Hall residency and spend two weeks in Manhattan performing there several times. We played at the season opening gala, and my Mum flew over to New York to watch. It was so special having her there to share in the experience.
How do you psych yourself up for practice on a lazy day?
Honestly, I usually revel in the opportunity to practice. My practice time is my alone time and it belongs to me. It’s almost like meditation after a long day of rehearsing or teaching. If the practice session is productive, I come out of the practice room feeling much more relaxed.
If I’m really not feeling it, even after a coffee, generally I just start to think about how much I have to get done – and that is enough to motivate me on its own!
Most embarrassing moment on stage?
In high school, I went on stage for the school concert and forgot my music! I was so embarrassed that I just faked the whole concert. Funnily enough, no one seemed to notice! Or maybe they were too nice…
Best piece of musical advice you’ve received?
As a teenager, my teacher used to make up stories about each piece of music I was playing at the time. We would sit down and think out what each phrase meant, and turn each passage into a part of the story. I still do it today! It takes the seriousness out of learning pieces, and stimulates my imagination.
Favourite post-gig ritual?
Unwinding with my friends from the orchestra and getting to know the audience members and subscribers over a nice glass of shiraz.
What are you most proud of in your musical career so far?
Every day, I feel proud to be a member of the QSO bass group. They constantly inspire me with their musicianship and good humour, and our great sense of collegiality makes me realise why I chose to be a double bassist.
What do you love most about making music?
I love the moment when I am performing on stage and I get in the zone and lose all of my inhibitions. It’s almost like entering a different realm of reality and letting all of the real world’s thoughts and stresses melt away.
What’s your ultimate goal?
I’m happy if I’m playing great music with great friends. Ultimately, a mix of different types of performance keeps me inspired, including solo and chamber music as well as orchestral playing.
Phoebe joined the Queensland Symphony Orchestra last April as Principal Double Bassist, inheriting an iconic and much revered instrument – the famous Lionhead Double Bass, which has been in the orchestra since the 1950s. She becomes the third generation Queensland Symphony Orchestra musician to play this instrument.
The Queensland Symphony Orchestra will perform Epic Visions on March 8 – more information on the QSO website.
Images supplied.
